Chapter 13 - Eleanor Comes Home
Six weeks after the fall, Eleanor left the hospital.
Khloe carried her daughter through the front doors herself.
Reporters waited across the street.
Harrison had arranged security.
Khloe had expected fear.
Instead, she felt relief.
Eleanor wore a pale yellow hat.
Her tiny fingers curled around Khloe's thumb.
At home, the nursery had been repaired.
Every damaged book was replaced.
Except one.
The blue nursery book remained sealed in an evidence box.
Khloe did not want it back.
That night, Harrison cooked dinner.
Badly.
Khloe watched him destroy a pan of pasta.
"You own restaurants."
"I represent restaurant owners."
"That's not the same thing."
"Clearly."
She laughed for the first time in weeks.
Eleanor slept nearby.
For a moment, life felt almost normal.
Then the doorbell rang.
Security identified the visitor.
Margaret Harrington.
Richard's mother.
Khloe's smile disappeared.
Margaret entered carrying flowers.
She looked ten years older.
"Khloe."
Khloe stayed seated.
"Why are you here?"
Margaret looked toward Eleanor.
"To see my granddaughter."
"No."
The answer came immediately.
Margaret flinched.
"Please."
"You defended Richard."
"I didn't know everything."
"You told reporters he was being targeted."
"I was scared."
"So was I."
Margaret sat carefully.
"Harrison."
He remained standing.
"This is between you and Khloe."
Margaret looked back at her daughter-in-law.
"Richard told me Vanessa pushed you in anger."
"He said he had nothing to do with it."
Khloe's expression remained calm.
"And you believed him."
"He's my son."
"I'm your son's wife."
"You knew me for eleven years."
Margaret started crying.
"I made a mistake."
Khloe looked toward Eleanor.
"Your son made choices."
"You made a choice too."
"You chose the story that hurt you less."
Margaret covered her face.
"I don't know how to fix this."
"You can't."
The words were not cruel.
They were final.
Margaret stood.
"Will I ever see her?"
Khloe looked at her.
"Not while you're defending the man who nearly took her away from me."
Margaret left without touching the baby.
Harrison closed the door.
Khloe stared toward the window.
"Was that too harsh?"
"No."
"You'd say that even if it was."
"No."
He sat across from her.
"I'd say it was effective."
Khloe rolled her eyes.
Then Harrison's phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
"David."
The District Attorney rarely called after nine unless something mattered.
Harrison answered.
His expression changed within seconds.
"When?"
He listened.
"Is he alive?"
Another pause.
"Understood."
Khloe sat straighter.
"What happened?"
Harrison disconnected.
"Richard was attacked."
"Where?"
"County detention."
"By who?"
"They don't know."
"How bad?"
"Broken ribs."
"Concussion."
Khloe went quiet.
Then she understood.
"Voss."
"Maybe."
"He wants Richard silent."
"That would be my guess."
Khloe looked down at Eleanor.
"Then Richard may be worth more alive than angry."
Harrison studied his sister.
"What are you thinking?"
May you like
Khloe's eyes lifted.
"I'm thinking Richard finally knows what it feels like to realize someone you trusted was willing to let you die."
