Chapter 5 - WHAT LAUREN HAD AGREED TO
Lauren finally told Claire the truth in the mansion’s laundry room.
Not because it was private.
Because it was the only room where Evelyn’s smart-home cameras did not cover the doorway.
Claire had never known there were cameras.
That fact landed first.
Then everything else followed.
“Mom called me about six weeks ago,” Lauren said. “She said you and Daniel were having problems.”
“We were.”
“She said you were talking about leaving after the baby came.”
“I was talking about leaving this house.”
“I know that now.”
Lauren leaned against the washer.
“She asked if I'd be willing to keep the baby for a few nights if things got bad.”
Claire folded her arms over her belly.
“And you said yes.”
Lauren nodded.
“I thought you knew.”
Claire laughed softly.
“How?”
“I don't know. I assumed Daniel had talked to you.”
“About sending my newborn to your apartment?”
“When you say it like that—”
“How else should I say it?”
Lauren looked ashamed.
“There was supposed to be a postpartum night nurse. Mom said the plan was only if you became overwhelmed.”
Claire thought about Daniel correcting himself at the hospital.
My son.
“What did she tell you was wrong with me?”
Lauren hesitated.
“Your mom.”
Claire stiffened.
“What about her?”
“She said your mother had postpartum psychosis.”
“My mother had postpartum depression.”
Lauren frowned.
“Mom said she was hospitalized.”
“For four days because she couldn't sleep and was having panic attacks. She got treatment. She raised three children.”
Lauren rubbed her forehead.
“I didn't know that.”
“Daniel does.”
The statement stayed between them.
Claire had told Daniel about her mother during their second year of marriage, after a friend developed severe postpartum anxiety. Daniel had held her hand and told her family history wasn't destiny.
Now that same history had apparently become evidence.
Lauren opened a cabinet above the washer.
Inside was Claire’s missing hospital bag.
Claire stared.
“I found it in Mom’s dressing room this morning.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
Claire unzipped it.
Her toiletries were gone.
Her clothes had been removed.
Only copies of her insurance card remained.
Lauren handed her another item.
A folded sheet of paper.
It was a checklist written in Evelyn’s neat handwriting.
LAUREN:
BASSINET
DIAPERS
FORMULA BACKUP
INFANT CAR SEAT
NIGHT NURSE CONTACT
DANIEL:
MEDICAL RELEASE
CARE AGREEMENT
PEDIATRICIAN
INSURANCE
EVELYN:
HOUSE
STAFF SCHEDULE
LEGAL
Claire read it twice.
Her own name appeared nowhere.
“When was this written?”
“I found it with your bag.”
Claire stared at Daniel’s name.
Medical release.
Care agreement.
Pediatrician.
This had not been Evelyn acting alone.
Lauren stepped closer.
“Claire, there's something else.”
“What?”
“The pediatrician Daniel chose.”
“We haven't chosen one.”
“He has.”
Claire looked up.
Lauren swallowed.
“The office is three blocks from my apartment.”
May you like
For the first time, Claire understood that the burgundy travel bag had not been the beginning of the plan.
It had been the last visible piece of one already in motion.
