Chapter 3 - Madison Was Not a Friend
Emily waited until Melissa took the baby for a routine check.
Then she looked at Madison.
“Tell me who you are.”
Madison glanced at Ryan.
Emily caught it.
“Don’t look at him.”
Madison swallowed.
“My name is Madison Cole.”
“I know your name.”
Emily’s voice shook.
“What are you doing here?”
Ryan moved toward the door.
Richard blocked him.
“Nobody leaves until Emily gets an answer.”
Madison’s eyes filled.
“I met Ryan eight months ago.”
Emily went still.
Eight months.
She had been pregnant for nearly that entire time.
Ryan snapped.
“Madison.”
“No.”
She looked at him.
“You said she knew.”
Emily felt something inside her break.
“Knew what?”
Madison started crying.
“That you were separated.”
Emily stared at Ryan.
They had shared breakfast yesterday morning.
He had kissed her before the induction.
Separated.
The word was almost absurd.
Madison continued.
“He said you were only living together because of the pregnancy.”
Emily looked at her husband.
“Is she telling the truth?”
Ryan’s silence answered.
Richard stepped toward him.
Emily spoke first.
“Dad. Don’t.”
Richard stopped.
She wanted to scream.
Instead, she asked the question that frightened her more.
“What does Madison have to do with the discharge papers?”
Madison wiped her face.
“I didn’t know what they were.”
Ryan cursed.
Emily looked at her.
“What did you sign?”
Madison reached into her purse.
She pulled out a photocopy.
A caregiver affidavit.
Ryan had told her it was needed because Emily might experience severe postpartum complications.
Madison’s signature appeared beside the words alternate infant caregiver.
Emily felt sick.
“You agreed to take my baby?”
“No!”
Madison’s voice cracked.
“He said temporarily. He said your doctor recommended it.”
Melissa returned at that exact moment.
She heard the last sentence.
Her expression changed.
“Mrs. Carter’s doctor recommended no such thing.”
Everyone looked at Ryan.
May you like
And Richard finally understood.
The affair was not the most dangerous thing his son-in-law had hidden.
