Chapter 2 - THE SISTER WHO STOPPED ANSWERING
Morgan called Rachel again while Diane stood beside the crib insisting there had to be an explanation.
“There is,” Morgan said. “You’re just not giving it to me.”
Diane denied knowing why Ava wore Lily’s hospital band. She claimed someone had knocked shortly after nine. The porch light had burned out the previous week. Through the glass, Diane saw a woman with Morgan’s height, brown hair, and old green winter coat.
The woman said the baby was asleep and hurried back to a running car.
“You didn’t see her face?”
“She kept her hood up.”
“But you took the baby.”
“I thought she was Lily.”
“You’ve held Lily every Sunday for six months.”
“She was bundled up.”
Morgan looked at Ava’s legs. She was heavier than Lily and wore a diaper one size larger.
Diane should have known.
Rachel had not attended a family gathering in nearly three months. She stopped speaking to Morgan after Morgan refused to lie to a Franklin County caseworker about Ava’s living arrangements.
At eight weeks old, Ava had been treated for a small fracture in her upper arm. Rachel said it happened when she tripped while carrying the baby and caught her awkwardly before falling.
The hospital reported the unexplained injury as required.
A safety plan followed. Rachel could keep custody, but she had to live with Diane, attend counseling, and allow supervised medical visits until the investigation closed.
Diane called the process cruel.
Morgan called it necessary.
That disagreement split the family.
Now Rachel’s baby was coughing inside Diane’s living room under Lily’s name.
Morgan examined the matching diaper bag.
Inside were formula bottles, wipes, a change of clothes identical to Lily’s, and a prescription inhaler.
The pharmacy label also said Lily Hale.
Diane reached for it.
Morgan pulled it away.
“Why does Ava have medication in my daughter’s name?”
“I’ve never seen that.”
“You knew which pocket it was in.”
Diane’s hand stopped.
Ava coughed again, then struggled to catch her breath.
Morgan picked up the carrier.
“We’re going to Nationwide Children’s.”
Diane moved in front of the door.
“You can’t take her there.”
May you like
Morgan stared at her mother.
That was the first honest answer Diane had given all night.
