Chapter 14 - Sabine’s Last Chance to Tell the Truth
They met at Denise’s office on a rainy Tuesday.
Sabine arrived alone.
No Rick.
No Eli.
Just Greer.
Sabine looked smaller without Fletcher beside her.
That surprised Greer.
For years, Sabine’s authority had filled every room.
Now Greer could see the difference between authority and certainty.
Sabine sat.
“I’m agreeing to step down as sole guardian.”
Greer did not react.
“Eli will not get full custody tomorrow,” Sabine continued. “His visits will increase. There will be reviews. Fletcher’s therapist stays involved.”
“I know.”
“I’ll have supervised contact at first.”
Greer nodded.
Sabine stared at her.
“Say something.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“That you’re happy.”
“I’m not.”
Sabine looked surprised.
Greer folded her arms.
“I’m relieved Fletcher gets choices. I’m relieved Eli gets a chance. I’m angry at you. I’m angry at Dad. I’m angry at myself. None of that feels like happy.”
Sabine looked away.
Rain moved down the office window.
After a moment she said, “Your mother called me from the hospital the week before she died.”
Greer’s entire body stiffened.
Sabine continued before Greer could stop her.
“She knew her heart was worse.”
“Did she say she was dying?”
“No.”
“Then don’t rewrite that too.”
“I’m not.”
Sabine swallowed.
“She said if something happened, I needed to make sure Fletcher had people who stayed.”
Greer waited.
“That’s all?”
“No.”
Sabine’s eyes filled.
“She also said, ‘Don’t turn him against Eli because you hate what Eli did to me.’”
Greer stared at her.
Sabine gave a broken laugh.
“There’s your answer.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“Because I did exactly what she told me not to do.”
Greer’s anger did not disappear.
It became cleaner.
For years, Sabine had claimed Holly’s wishes justified her actions.
In reality, Holly had warned her against them.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“Every time you told me Mom wanted Eli gone…”
“Yes.”
“You knew.”
Sabine looked at Greer.
“Yes.”
Greer stood.
Sabine did too.
“I loved Fletcher.”
“Love isn’t the part I doubt.”
That hurt Sabine more than accusation would have.
Greer picked up her bag.
Sabine’s voice followed her.
“Will he hate me?”
Greer turned.
“I don’t know.”
“I was his mother.”
“You were the person raising him.”
“That’s not nothing.”
“I never said it was.”
Sabine’s mouth trembled.
“What am I supposed to be now?”
Three months earlier, Greer might have answered cruelly.
Nothing.
A liar.
His aunt.
Instead she said, “Whatever Fletcher eventually feels safe letting you be.”
Sabine closed her eyes.
Greer walked toward the door.
Behind her, Sabine said, “I’m going to sign.”
Greer stopped but did not turn around.
The next morning, Sabine signed the proposed transition agreement.
Once the judge reviewed it, the process could move forward.
For the first time since Fletcher was six weeks old, Sabine had voluntarily surrendered the right to make every decision.
May you like
The final exposure no longer depended on catching her.
It depended on whether she would accept what the truth required.
