Chapter 5: The Document on the Table
I stared at the document sitting between us.
My name was written across the top.
But something about it felt wrong.
Lauren watched my reaction carefully.
She wasn’t nervous anymore.
She looked almost satisfied.
Like she had been waiting for this exact moment.
My father shifted uncomfortably.
“Lauren, are you sure this is necessary?””
She turned toward him.
“Necessary?””
Her voice sharpened.
“She’s been treating me like a monster for days.””
I looked at her.
“You hurt my daughter.””
Lauren immediately shook her head.
“There. That’s exactly what I mean.””
James stepped closer.
“Explain the document.””
Lauren looked at him.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Then she smiled.
“This isn’t about me.””
James’s eyes narrowed.
“Then what is it about?””
She pushed the paper toward us.
“Read it.””
I picked it up.
The first few lines were enough to make my stomach twist.
It was a report.
A complaint.
A document Lauren had apparently prepared about me.
About my parenting.
About Emma.
I kept reading.
“She wrote this?””
My voice was quiet.
Lauren crossed her arms.
“Yes.””
The words blurred slightly.
According to the document, I was “overprotective.””
I was “emotionally unstable.””
I was “isolating Emma from family members.””
I looked up.
“You wrote that?””
Lauren didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.””
My father sighed.
“Lauren said she was concerned.””
I turned toward him.
“Concerned?””
I held up the pages.
“She created a report about me.””
“She was trying to help.””
“No.””
My voice became stronger.
“She was trying to control me.””
Lauren laughed.
“That’s dramatic.””
James took the document from my hand.
He scanned it silently.
His expression became colder with every page.
“What exactly was your goal?””
Lauren shrugged.
“My goal was making sure Emma was safe.””
James looked at her.
“By attacking her mother?””
“I’m not attacking anyone.””
“You accused my wife of being unstable.””
Lauren’s jaw tightened.
“Because she is too emotional.””
The room went silent.
I felt something inside me break.
Not because Lauren insulted me.
Because she was talking about me like I wasn’t standing there.
Like I was a problem to be managed.
James folded the document.
“Did you submit this anywhere?””
Lauren looked away.
That tiny movement answered the question.
“Lauren.””
Her face changed.
“I was just exploring options.””
“What options?””
She didn’t respond.
My heart started racing.
“What options?””
She finally looked at me.
“Maybe temporary arrangements.””
The air disappeared from my lungs.
My father immediately said, “Lauren.””
But she kept going.
“You’re acting like I wanted to take your baby.””
James’s voice dropped.
“Did you?””
“No.””
“Then why would you create paperwork suggesting her mother is unfit?””
Lauren opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because she knew.
Everyone knew.
My mother sat down slowly.
“I didn’t know she did this.””
I looked at her.
“You didn’t know she was trying to prove I couldn’t care for my own child?””
She shook her head.
“No.””
But I didn’t know if I believed her anymore.
Too many things had been hidden.
Too many things had been ignored.
James placed the document on the table.
“You need to leave.””
Lauren stared at him.
Again.
“You’re kicking me out?””
“Yes.””
She looked at me.
“You’re really choosing him over your own family?””
I held Emma tighter.
“No.””
My voice was calm.
“I’m choosing my daughter.””
For once, Lauren had no response.
She grabbed the document.
But before she reached the door, she stopped.
“You think this is over?””
James looked at her.
“It is.””
She smiled faintly.
“No.””
Her eyes moved toward Emma.
“You don’t know everything.””
A cold feeling ran through me.
“What does that mean?””
Lauren opened the door.
“It means you should ask your husband why he was investigating me before Thanksgiving.””
Then she left.
The door closed.
And this time, James didn’t move.
I turned toward him.
“Investigating?””
He looked away.
“James.””
He closed his eyes.
“I didn’t want you involved.””
“That’s not an answer.””
A long silence followed.
Then he finally said:
“I found something.””
My heart sank.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“Something about Lauren that started before Emma was born.””
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And suddenly, I realized Thanksgiving had never been the beginning.
It was the moment everything finally exploded.
