Chapter 10

Down below, people were walking their dogs, and some were heading home with baskets of groceries.

Everyone else's life was as bland as lukewarm water.

But behind my door, there was a secret about to burst out.

I said, "I'm taking Isobel to my mom's place today."

Taylor's voice turned cold. "Why?"

"I'm not feeling well. My mom can take care of Isobel for a couple of days."

"Isn't Willow here?"

"I don't want to bother her."

Silence fell outside again.

A few seconds later, he said, "Make sure she's back before Friday."

I didn't answer.

He said, "Isobel has to go for the check-up on Friday."

The word "has to" jabbed through the crack in the door, like a thorn stabbing right at me.

I said, "Let's wait until I'm feeling better."

Taylor lowered his voice.

He said, "This isn't a small thing."

I leaned my forehead against Isobel's soft little hat.

I said, "When it comes to Isobel, nothing is a small thing for me."

Silence from the other side of the door.

Half an hour later, Willow showed up.

She changed her shoes, washed her hands, and headed into the kitchen, just like always.

But as I packed Isobel's things, Willow lingered in the living room.

I tucked Isobel's birth certificate and vaccination records into the inner pocket of my bag.

Willow suddenly asked, "Are you heading out today, Mrs. Francis?"

I said, "I'm going to my mom's place."

She immediately said, "Isobel doesn't like sleeping in a new place. She'll cry at night if she's somewhere unfamiliar."

"She's stayed at my mom's place before."

The weather's changing lately. It's better not to stress her out right now."

I looked up at her. "Willow, are you going to miss her?"

Her smile stiffened for a second. "I've looked after her for so long, of course I feel attached."

I nodded. "Then you should know, for a mother, it's even harder."

Willow lowered her head and went quiet.

When I walked out with Isobel in my arms, Taylor was standing in the entryway.

He didn't move aside.

He watched Isobel in my arms.

Isobel was chewing on her blankie, her eyes wide and round.

Taylor reached out to touch her.

I took a step back.

His hand hung in the air, suspended.

He said, "Coraline, what's going on with you?"

I looked at him.

I wanted to throw those papers right in his face.

I wanted to ask him, "When you signed those papers outside the delivery room five years ago, did you even care about me?"

And I wanted to ask him, "How could you let our daughter's name end up in someone else's medical records?"

But I didn't.

Sophie had told me, "Don't lay your cards on the table until you're ready."

I said, "I've got a headache. I'm going to stay at my mom's for a couple of days."

Taylor stared at me.

After a long moment, he finally stepped aside.

He said, "I'll come pick you up tonight."

I said, "No need."

"I'm not asking for your opinion."

I didn't say another word.

As the elevator doors closed, I saw Willow standing behind Taylor.

Her gaze lingered on Isobel.

Willow didn't look like a nanny anymore.

She was more like someone holding onto an old secret.

As soon as I stepped into my mom's place, I couldn't hold myself together anymore.

I handed Isobel over and went straight to the bathroom.

I let the water run from the faucet.

I doubled over the sink, dry-heaving for a long time, but nothing came out.

My mom started knocking on the door, sounding worried.

She said, "Coraline, what's going on?"

I splashed some water on my face and opened the door.

I told her everything I could.

I told her how Willow let something slip.

I told her about Freddie.

I told her how Taylor had been hiding the truth for five years.

I told her about the bone marrow match application at Westbrook Hospital.

By the time I finished, my mom's hands were shaking so badly she could barely hold her cup.

Her first instinct was to rush out and confront Taylor.

I grabbed her arm to stop her.

I said, "Mom, don't.

"If he figures out what we're scared of, he'll cover everything up."

My mom's eyes were red as she asked, "So what are we supposed to do now?"

I said, "Right now, we have to protect Isobel first."

That afternoon, Sophie came over to my mom's place.

After she finished looking through all the documents, she looked really troubled. "There are two main issues here.

"First, who Freddie really is, and whether Taylor hid the fact he was married or kept anything else from you.

"Second, whether Isobel had any medical tests done without you knowing or agreeing to it.

"The second one is more urgent."

She told me to immediately submit a written statement to Westbrook Hospital.

The statement said I didn't consent to any tests or procedures on Isobel that weren't medically necessary.

She also told me to send a copy to the hospital's medical department and hang onto the delivery receipt.

I did as she said.

As I signed my name, my pen scratched the paper a little; my hand was shaking.

Isobel giggled in the living room.

She sat on my mom's lap, holding tight to a little rattle.

The rattle jingled softly in her hand.