Chapter 7 - Noah Recorded One Conversation
Noah began crying.
“I thought Lily was going away because Dad was dangerous.”
David’s heart sank.
Rachel had told Noah that David might lose control if he learned about
the separation.
She instructed him to stay quiet to protect Lily.
Noah believed her.
Then he admitted something else.
He had recorded Rachel and Susan talking because their conversation
frightened him.
On his tablet was a twenty-three-minute audio file.
Rachel’s voice:
“Once David is out of the country, I file.”
Susan asked:
“And Lily?”
“She’ll already be placed.”
“What about Noah?”
“He comes back with me.”
Susan sounded uneasy.
“You understand a court may question separating siblings?”
Rachel answered:
“They’re not siblings.”
Noah’s face crumpled.
David stopped the recording.
For four years, Noah had called Lily his sister.
Lily adored him.
Rachel had reduced their relationship to biology the moment it became
useful.
Noah whispered:
“I didn’t know she thought that.”
David pulled him close.
“I don’t care what that recording says.”
Noah looked up.
“You’re still my dad?”
May you like
David answered immediately.
“As long as you want me to be.”
