Chapter 14 - DIANE’S LAST MOVE
I should have known Diane would not accept defeat quietly.
For two weeks, she disappeared.
No texts.
No calls.
No appearances at Mark’s parenting time.
Nothing.
I almost began to relax.
Then Child Protective Services arrived at Rachel’s house on a Tuesday morning.
I was feeding Nora.
Rachel answered the door.
A woman and a man introduced themselves.
My blood turned cold.
They had received an anonymous report.
The allegations were specific.
That I was severely sleep deprived.
That I was experiencing paranoid thoughts.
That I sometimes screamed at the baby.
That I had refused medical care.
That the home was unsafe.
I wanted to panic.
Instead, Laura’s voice appeared in my head.
Be boring.
I invited them in.
Rachel called Laura.
The caseworker asked to see Nora.
I showed her.
Nora was clean.
Fed.
Healthy.
She had gained weight.
Her pediatric appointments were current.
Her bassinet was safe.
The house was clean.
The refrigerator had food.
My medications were stored properly.
The pediatrician’s information was on the fridge.
The caseworker asked whether I was receiving mental-health care.
“Yes.”
I gave permission for her to confirm my attendance with my therapist.
“Have you had thoughts of harming yourself or the baby?”
“No.”
“Have you screamed at your baby?”
“No.”
“Have you ever refused medical care for the baby?”
“No.”
Nora had actually seen her pediatrician two days earlier.
I showed the discharge summary.
The caseworker glanced at her colleague.
The first crack in the anonymous complaint appeared.
Then she asked about the custody dispute.
I explained.
I showed the temporary order.
I showed Diane’s messages.
I showed the court’s concern regarding manufactured instability.
The woman’s expression changed.
“Do you know who made the report?”
“No.”
That was true.
I suspected.
But I didn’t know.
After they left, I sat on the kitchen floor and shook.
Rachel sat beside me.
“You did everything right.”
“They came for my baby.”
“They came to investigate a report.”
“Someone sent them.”
“Yes.”
“They knew exactly what to say.”
Rachel’s face hardened.
“Diane.”
“Probably.”
That evening, Mark called through the parenting app.
I answered because it concerned Nora.
“What happened?”
His voice sounded furious.
“What do you mean?”
“CPS went to Rachel’s house?”
“How do you know?”
Silence.
My skin went cold.
“How do you know, Mark?”
“Mom told me.”
There it was.
I closed my eyes.
“She told you.”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“This afternoon.”
“Why would she know?”
Mark said nothing.
My heart began pounding.
“Did she make the report?”
“I don’t know.”
“You know something.”
“She said she was worried.”
I stood.
“Mark.”
“I told her not to do anything.”
I almost dropped the phone.
“You knew she was considering it?”
“She said she thought someone should check on Nora.”
“And you didn’t warn me?”
“I thought she was venting.”
“Again.”
“What?”
“You thought she was just worried.”
“Again.”
He swore quietly.
“I’m going over there.”
“No.”
“I’m going to talk to her.”
“No, Mark.”
“This has to stop.”
“Yes.”
“But not with another private conversation she can rewrite later.”
He became quiet.
“What do you want me to do?”
It was the first time he had asked that question.
Not what do you want me to believe.
Not why are you making this difficult.
What do you want me to do?
“Tell your attorney.”
I said.
“In writing.”
“Tell him your mother discussed reporting me before a report was made.”
“And tell Laura.”
Mark swallowed.
“That could hurt Mom.”
I stared at the wall.
There it was.
The final test.
“Yes.”
I said.
“It could.”
He was silent for several seconds.
Then he whispered, “Okay.”
The next morning, Laura forwarded me an email from Mark’s attorney.
Mark had disclosed the conversation.
He had also given his attorney text messages from Diane.
One read: IF EMILY WON’T COOPERATE, MAYBE OFFICIAL PEOPLE NEED TO SEE HOW SHE’S LIVING.
Another read: YOU HAVE TO STOP PROTECTING HER FEELINGS.
And the final one said: I WILL DO WHAT YOU ARE TOO WEAK TO DO.
My hands trembled.
May you like
Diane had made her last move.
And this time, her own son had handed us the proof.
