Chapter 6: The Mother-in-Law Calls
David stared at the name on the screen — *Diane* — and for a moment he didn't move.
"Don't answer it," I said.
"If I don't, she'll call back every ten minutes." He picked it up.
"I'll put her on speaker."
He answered.
"David." Diane's voice was clipped and high.
"I need you to come home right now.
Emma is in a terrible state.
Whatever your mother has told you, you need to hear Emma's side before you do anything rash."
"I'm not doing anything rash, Diane," David said.
"I'm sitting at my mother's kitchen table."
"She's been poisoning you against Emma for years.
You know that.
Everyone knows that."
David looked at me.
I kept my face still.
"What specifically has my mother done?" David asked.
A short pause.
"She's always made Emma feel unwelcome.
Always found fault.
Always had to be the most important woman in your life."
"I'd like an example," David said.
"Something specific."
Another pause, longer this time.
"Emma says she tried to interfere with the wedding venue."
"That didn't happen," David said.
"Emma says—"
"Diane." His voice was quiet but firm.
"I was there.
I planned that wedding with Emma.
My mother expressed one opinion about one venue, once, and when we chose a different one, she said nothing more about it.
That is not interference."
Silence on the line.
"Emma is very upset," Diane said, shifting direction.
"The children are asking for their father."
David's jaw tightened.
"Where are the children right now?"
"Here with me.
Emma brought them over an hour ago."
"Are they all right?"
"They're fine.
They're watching television.
But they want to come home, David, and Emma needs you to—"
"I'll come and get the children this afternoon," David said.
"I'll bring them to stay with my mother tonight."
A sharp intake of breath.
"You can't just take the children."
"I'm not taking them.
I'm collecting them.
Emma brought them to you voluntarily.
I'm their father.
I'm entitled to be with them." He paused.
"Unless Emma would like to explain to a family court why she moved the children out of the family home and then refused to allow the father access."
The line was very quiet.
"I don't know what's gotten into you," Diane said.
Her voice had changed — less sharp now, more careful.
"This isn't like you."
"No," David said.
"It isn't.
I've spent six years being very patient and very quiet.
I'm done with that now."
He ended the call.
He sat back in his chair and let out a long, slow breath.
"She'll call Emma the moment she hangs up," I said.
"I know." He rubbed his face with both hands.
"I need to get the kids before Emma decides they're better leverage somewhere else."
"I'll come with you."
"Mum—"
"I'll wait in the car," I said.
"You go in.
But I'm not letting you do this alone."
He looked at me for a long moment.
"She's going to say terrible things about you," he said.
"If this goes further.
In court, to the children, to anyone who will listen.
She's going to make you the villain in this story."
"I know," I said.
"And you're still willing to do this?"
I stood up and picked up my coat from the back of the chair.
"David," I said, "I worked double shifts for fifteen years so you could have a decent life.
I carried a photograph in my kitchen drawer for six weeks because I was afraid of hurting you.
I have been careful and patient and quiet for longer than I should have been." I looked at him steadily.
"A few terrible things said about me is not going to stop me from standing next to my son."
He stood up.
For a moment he just looked at me.
Then he crossed the kitchen and put his arms around me — the way he used to when he was small and something had frightened him — and I held on.
"Let's go get your grandchildren," he said into my shoulder.
We walked out to the car together.
Halfway down the drive, my phone buzzed.
A message from a number I didn't recognize.
*You should know she has a copy of something too.
Something about you.
She's been holding it for two years, waiting.
Ask David about the letter.*
I stopped walking.
David turned.
"Mum?
What is it?"
I looked at the message again.
May you like
"Get in the car," I said carefully.
"There's something I need to ask you about."
