Chapter 2 - The Detail Elaine Protected
Grant asked everyone except Maya to wait outside. Elaine protested until Ellie whispered, "Please." The words sent all three relatives into the hall. Maya sat beside the bed and unzipped the purple backpack. Inside were warm apple slices, sunscreen, and a water bottle still sealed. She decided Rachel had punished Ellie for being quiet, slow, or inconvenient. Rachel had called her clingy before, then laughed. Ellie would not confirm it. She only said Grandpa moved the SUV, Grandma bought lemonade, and Aunt Rachel told her to "count blue cars until somebody remembered." Grant returned with a temporary safety plan: no one from the outing could be alone with Ellie while the county reviewed the case. Maya signed before reading the last page. Outside, Rachel accepted the restriction too quickly. Elaine argued about one detail only. "Warren wasn't driving," she said three times. Warren did not agree. He rubbed his thumb over a gold union ring and asked why everyone was standing in a hospital.
