Chapter 8: What Vanessa Did Next
Three days after the hearing, Vanessa called Daniel's mother.
Her name was Eleanor, and she was seventy-one years old and had never fully warmed to Vanessa, though she had kept that opinion to herself out of love for her son.
She listened to everything Vanessa said — the injustice of it, the fabrications, the grief of being separated from a child she loved — and when Vanessa finished, Eleanor said: "I'll pray for you, dear," and ended the call.
Then she phoned Daniel.
"She's trying to build support," Eleanor said.
"She called Margaret Hale too.
And your old colleague from the firm."
"What did she tell them?"
"That Carol is unhinged.
That you've had a breakdown since losing Claire.
That you're being manipulated by a woman who blames Vanessa for her niece's death and can't accept it was an accident." Eleanor paused.
"She's a very good storyteller."
"I know," Daniel said.
"Daniel." His mother's voice changed.
"Are you certain about all of this?
Not because I doubt you.
I want to be clear — I don't doubt you.
But I need to know you're certain, because what comes next will be hard."
"I'm certain," he said.
"Sophie told me.
And Amy Foss told me.
And Lily's medical records told me." He paused.
"I'm certain."
"All right," Eleanor said.
"Then I'm with you."
---
Vanessa's lawyer filed a counter-motion four days later, requesting that the temporary order be reviewed on the grounds of procedurally insufficient evidence.
He also submitted a character reference from a child psychologist — a man named Dr.
Reeves — who stated that he had observed Vanessa with Sophie on three occasions and found the relationship warm and appropriate.
Grace reviewed it and called Daniel.
"The psychologist is a problem," she said.
"Not insurmountable, but a problem.
Do you know how she found him?"
"No."
"He's listed on the website of a family mediation service that Marcus Webb's holding company donated to two years ago." A pause.
"I'm not saying that's dispositive.
But it's worth noting."
"Can we use it?"
"We can raise it.
Whether the DA finds it useful is another question." Grace paused again.
"There's something else.
The DA's office called this morning.
They've formally opened an investigation.
They want to interview you next week."
Daniel sat down.
"Okay."
"They also want to interview Carol.
And they've already reached out to Amy Foss directly." Grace's voice was careful and steady.
"Daniel, this is real now.
It's not just a family court matter.
Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
"Yes," he said.
"I understand."
---
That night, Vanessa appeared at Ruth's house.
She didn't ring the bell.
She stood on the pavement outside and called Daniel's phone, and when he looked out the window and saw her standing there in the dark, something cold moved through him.
He went outside.
"You can't be here," he said.
"The order—"
"I'm not on the property," she said.
"I'm on a public pavement." She looked past him at the house.
"Is she in there?"
"Don't."
"I just want to know she's all right."
"She's fine.
Go home, Vanessa."
Vanessa looked at him.
In the dark, with the streetlight behind her, she looked like a different person — or maybe like the person she had always been, now that he was finally looking without wanting to see something else.
"I know what you think of me," she said.
"But you're wrong.
And when this is over, you'll know you were wrong, and it will be too late to fix it."
"Go home," he said again.
She stood there for one more moment.
Then she turned and walked back to her car.
Daniel watched until the car was gone.
Then he went inside and locked the door and stood in the hallway for a moment.
Ruth appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Who was that?"
"No one," he said.
"Go back to bed."
He went to check on Sophie.
She was asleep on her side with Mr.
Bear tucked under her arm and her mouth slightly open.
He stood in the doorway and watched her breathe.
Then he went back to the kitchen, sat down, and called Grace.
"She was outside Ruth's house," he said.
"On the pavement.
Technically outside the order."
"I'll file for an extension of the exclusion zone in the morning," Grace said.
"Document it.
Time, location, what she said, word for word."
"Already writing it down."
"Good." A pause.
"Daniel.
She's scared.
Scared people make mistakes."
May you like
He looked at Sophie's door down the hallway.
"Let her," he said.
