Chapter 2 - BEFORE FRIDAY
Margaret grabbed for the phone.
I stepped back.
"Give me that."
"No."
"Rachel, you're hysterical."
"My daughter is unconscious."
Emma made a tiny sound behind me.
I dropped everything and went back to her.
"Baby?"
Her eyes fluttered.
I almost collapsed with relief.
Vanessa whispered, "She's fine."
I turned.
"If you say one more word, I swear—"
Margaret pulled Vanessa toward the hallway.
"Enough."
I called 911.
This time Margaret did not try to stop me.
She just stared at the phone in my hand.
At the hospital, Emma was diagnosed with a concussion and a deep bruise. No skull fracture. No internal bleeding.
The doctor said we were lucky.
Lucky.
I sat beside Emma's crib with that word burning in my head.
My husband, Michael, arrived twenty minutes later.
He looked wrecked.
"What happened?"
I told him.
His face changed when I said Vanessa's name.
Then I showed him the video.
He watched once.
Then again.
"Friday?" he whispered.
"What happens Friday?"
He looked at me.
I knew that look.
The look he wore when there was something he had not told me.
"Michael."
He rubbed his face.
"My father’s trust is being amended Friday."
"What trust?"
"The family trust."
I stared.
"We've been married six years. What family trust?"
He sat down.
"My grandfather left controlling shares in Patterson Foods. Dad manages them. After he died, Mom became temporary trustee."
"And Friday?"
"Emma becomes the youngest direct beneficiary."
My stomach dropped.
"How much?"
Michael's voice was barely audible.
"About eighteen million dollars."
I looked at my sleeping daughter.
Then back at him.
"And if I lose custody?"
He didn't answer immediately.
"Michael."
"If you're declared unfit, Emma's property guardian can be reassigned."
"To whom?"
May you like
His face went gray.
"My mother."
