Chapter 16 - The Recording
Simone asked to see Leah the following evening.
Leah almost refused.
Then she changed her mind.
Simone looked completely different without makeup.
Smaller.
Younger.
Scared.
Her daughter remained in the neonatal unit.
Nathan had been asked to stay away unless Simone requested him.
Leah sat opposite her.
Neither woman knew where to begin.
Finally, Simone spoke.
“My daughter’s name is Ava.”
Leah nodded.
“That’s pretty.”
“Thank you.”
Silence returned.
Then Simone reached beneath her pillow.
She removed a small digital recorder.
Leah stared at it.
“What is that?”
“My insurance.”
“Against whom?”
“Everyone.”
Simone pressed play.
Doreen’s voice filled the room.
“If Leah becomes difficult, remind Nathan that he can lose everything.”
Another recording began.
Nathan spoke this time.
“I won’t let you hurt her.”
Then Doreen answered.
“You already have.”
Leah closed her eyes.
A third recording played.
Dr. Rusk was speaking.
“The behavioral note is too aggressive.”
Doreen answered.
“Then soften the language.”
“Concern about intrusive thoughts.”
“Possible paranoia.”
“Whatever sounds clinical.”
Leah’s eyes opened.
Simone stopped the recording.
“I recorded that six days ago.”
“Why didn’t you stop them?”
Simone began crying.
“Because I thought I was going to get Nathan.”
Leah said nothing.
“I thought you were the obstacle.”
Simone continued.
“Doreen told me Nathan had been miserable for years.”
“She said you controlled him.”
“She said you trapped him with the pregnancy.”
Leah laughed bitterly.
“And you believed her.”
“I wanted to.”
That sentence felt familiar.
Nathan had said almost the same thing.
I wanted to believe her.
Doreen did not need people to be stupid.
She only needed them to be selfish.
“What changed?”
Leah asked.
Simone looked toward the window.
“I heard Doreen tell Nathan that once Eli’s trust activated, my baby was irrelevant.”
“She called my daughter an insurance policy.”
Leah’s stomach turned.
Simone handed her the recorder.
“Take it.”
“This can destroy all of them.”
Leah looked at her.
“Including Nathan.”
“Yes.”
“You’re carrying his child.”
“I know.”
Simone’s eyes filled with tears.
“That doesn’t mean he deserves protection from what he did.”
Leah took the recorder.
For the first time, she looked at Simone and saw neither a rival nor a villain.
She saw another woman who had made terrible choices.
Another woman who had believed a charming lie.
Another mother now standing in the wreckage.
“I don’t forgive you.”
Leah said.
Simone nodded.
“I wouldn’t either.”
“But I’ll tell the truth about what Doreen did to you.”
Simone looked surprised.
“Why?”
May you like
Leah stood slowly.
“Because I’m not her.”
