Chapter 13

Sophie glanced at the file bag. "Who said you could start this process?"

Eloise frowned. "Who are you?"

Sophie said, "I'm Coraline Sargent's lawyer."

Eloise's expression darkened. "This is our family's business. Outsiders need to stay out of it."

Sophie didn't back down. "When it comes to medical decisions or taking samples from a minor, the mother, as a co-guardian, can say no.

"Being the father doesn't mean he gets a free pass."

Eloise let out a cold laugh. "Isobel's last name is Francis."

I said, "She's also my child. I gave birth to her after carrying her for nine months."

Eloise looked at me. "Coraline, you don't have to be so dramatic.

"Freddie's part of the Francis family too.

"He grew up without a mother, and he's always been sickly.

"It's a compatibility test for Isobel, we're not asking her to risk her life."

Without realizing it, my grip on Isobel tightened.

Isobel wriggled in my arms, trying to get comfortable.

I quickly relaxed my hold and leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

"To you, she's just a match," I said. "But to me, she's my life."

Eloise's eyes turned cold.

"You're so selfish," she said. "Both kids are Taylor's own flesh and blood.

"Isn't it right for one to save the other?"

I looked up at her. "The real issue is, you never treat Isobel like a real person.

"To you, she's nothing more than a potential match, just a sample to test."

Willow was still on her knees, her voice hoarse from crying.

She tried to tug at Eloise's sleeve.

"Mrs. Francis, please, stop," she pleaded.

Eloise shook her off.

"You're useless too," she snapped. "I told you to watch the kid, and you can't even do that one simple thing right."

Willow froze at those words.

My mom was in the room, holding Isobel, her lips pressed tight with anger.

"Was this all set up from the start?" she demanded.

Eloise didn't answer.

She shoved the file bag toward me again.

"Tomorrow at nine in the morning," she said. "At Westbrook Hospital. The doctor's already scheduled."

Sophie put out her hand to stop the file bag. "Everything you say right now is on the record."

Eloise looked at her.

"Is that supposed to scare me?" she scoffed.

"I'm not trying to scare you. Taking a child's biological sample without the mother's consent, that's already infringing on the child's rights.

"If you try to take the kid by force, I'll tell Coraline to call the cops immediately."

Eloise let out a laugh. "Call the cops?

"You really think the police are going to step in just because grandparents want to see their own granddaughter?"

I said, "You're not here just to see her. That's your real reason for coming."

Eloise finally lost her patience.

She shoved the file bag back into her purse, her voice low.

"Coraline, don't make things so final," she said. "Taylor hasn't done you wrong these past few years.

"House, car, kid, haven't you got everything you need?

"So you're not agreeing now; are you waiting to make a deal?"

I froze for a few seconds.

Then a wave of nausea rose in my chest, nearly making me gag.

Turned out, to her, my fear, my anger, my urge to protect my child, they were all bargaining chips she could use.

I said, "Please leave."

She stared at me.

"You'll regret this," she said.

Sophie stepped forward. "Please leave."

Some neighbors were peeking out from their doors.

Eloise, who always cared about saving face, finally stopped making a scene.

Before stepping into the elevator, she turned back to look at me.

"The Francis family isn't just going to sit back and let something happen to Freddie," she said. "You won't be able to stop us."

The elevator doors closed.

Willow was still on her knees.

I looked at her.

"You should leave too," I said.

Willow looked up, her eyes bloodshot.

"Mrs. Francis, I really never wanted to hurt Isobel," Willow said.

I asked her, "Where did you put the teether?"

Her lips quivered. "I don't know. Taylor told me to put it in a sealed bag.

"He said it was just to check something, that's all."

My mom's knees went weak when she heard that, and she had to grab the doorframe to steady herself.

Sophie immediately asked, "When did this happen?"

Willow whispered, "Last Wednesday.

"I gave Mr. Francis the teether Isobel used, and a strand of her hair."

My vision went black for a second.

Last Wednesday, Isobel was drooling a lot. I thought she was teething.

I washed that pale yellow teether myself and put it in the sterilizer.

Turned out, someone had been sneaking out bits of her from my home, piece by piece.

I said, "Get out."

Willow stood up, still crying.

She opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something more.

I didn't even look at her.