Chapter 14 - The Hearing
The hearing took place by emergency video conference from a private room inside Briar Glen.
Leah wore a hospital robe beneath a cardigan Mae had found for her.
Owen slept beside her.
Simone sat to her right.
Nathan sat across the room.
Doreen appeared on screen from her attorney’s office.
She looked immaculate.
Controlled.
Untouched by consequence.
The magistrate reviewed the petition.
Doreen’s attorney spoke first.
He described Leah as a vulnerable new mother suffering from escalating emotional instability.
Leah listened without reacting.
He referenced her nightmare.
Her distrust of Doreen.
Her decision to hide inside a locked supply room.
Then he delivered the line Doreen had probably been waiting for.
“Mrs. Carver’s behavior demonstrates an escalating fixation that family members intend to remove her child.”
Simone stood.
“With respect, Your Honor, they did intend to remove her child.”
She submitted the recording.
Doreen’s face changed.
Only slightly.
The magistrate listened.
Once the audio ended, he looked toward Doreen’s attorney.
“Counsel?”
The attorney requested time to confer.
The magistrate refused.
Simone then submitted the forged authorization forms.
The psychiatric evaluation from Dr. Cole.
The pre-birth guardianship petition.
Finally, the emails between Doreen and Dr. Rusk.
Doreen’s attorney looked increasingly uncomfortable.
Then Nathan testified.
His voice shook.
He admitted the debt.
He admitted discussing Owen’s trust.
He admitted providing personal information about Leah.
He admitted signing the declaration.
“Did you believe your wife was a danger to your child?”
The magistrate asked.
Nathan looked at Leah.
“No.”
“Then why did you sign a document suggesting she might be?”
Nathan’s face reddened.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of your wife?”
“No.”
“My mother.”
Doreen suddenly leaned toward the camera.
“That is absurd.”
The magistrate raised a hand.
“Mrs. Carver, you will have your opportunity.”
Nathan continued.
“My mother told me Leah’s temporary incapacity would allow me to petition for management of Owen’s trust.”
“She said I could resolve my debt and replace the money before Leah regained control.”
Leah closed her eyes.
Hearing it publicly still hurt.
Doreen’s attorney whispered something to her.
She ignored him.
Nathan continued.
“I agreed.”
“I’m ashamed of that.”
Then a knock sounded at the hearing-room door.
Elena opened it.
A woman stood outside.
She was tall.
Thin.
Dark-haired.
Her face resembled Nathan’s.
Nathan stood.
“Rachel.”
Doreen’s expression changed completely.
For the first time, real fear appeared.
Rachel stepped inside.
She looked toward the screen.
“Hello, Mother.”
Doreen whispered,
“You have no business here.”
Rachel gave a small smile.
“I said the same thing eight years ago when you walked into my hospital room.”
The magistrate leaned forward.
“Who is this?”
Simone stood.
“Your Honor, this is Rachel Carver.”
“She is prepared to testify regarding a nearly identical guardianship attempt involving Mrs. Doreen Carver and Dr. Celia Rusk.”
The room fell silent.
Rachel sat down.
She placed a thick folder on the table.
May you like
Then she looked directly at the camera.
“I kept everything.”
