Chapter 8: The Petition Falls
The court's response came the following afternoon.
Rourke called Ryan at three-seventeen.
Ryan was in the hospital cafeteria.
He stepped outside into the cold air to take it.
"The petition has been suspended," Rourke said.
"The judge reviewed our emergency motion this morning.
The fraudulent medical documentation was enough.
She's ordered a full review of all materials submitted by your mother before any further proceedings can occur."
Ryan leaned against the wall of the building.
"And the hearing?"
"Postponed indefinitely pending the investigation.
The court has also flagged the petition for referral to the state attorney's office given the fraudulent expert witness."
"Meaning crjminal charges are possible."
"Meaning they're likely, if the investigation confirms what we already know." Rourke paused.
"There's one more thing.
The court clerk your mother had been in contact with — the one I mentioned, the level of familiarity that concerned me — that clerk has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal review."
Ryan said nothing for a moment.
"She had someone on the inside," he said.
"It appears so.
Whether that rises to the level of misconduct or something more serious is for the review to determine." Rourke's voice was measured.
"Ryan, I want to be honest with you.
The crjminal side of this — the fake doctor, the possible court access — that moves at its own pace.
It could be months before charges are filed, if they are.
What I can tell you is that as of today, the petition is dead and your family is protected."
"What does Evelyn do now?"
"Her attorney contacted me this morning.
He asked whether you would consider a private resolution — no further legal action in exchange for your mother formally withdrawing all claims and agreeing to a supervised contact arrangement for Oliver."
Ryan watched a car pull slowly through the hospital parking lot.
"What does supervised contact mean?"
"It means she could see Oliver.
But only with you or Maya present.
No unsupervised visits.
No medical appointments she arranges.
No contact with Oliver's school or doctors without your written consent."
"And she withdraws everything."
"Everything.
Permanently."
Ryan thought about it.
He thought about Oliver in the hospital bed naming a plastic dinosaur Gerald with complete seriousness.
He thought about Maya in Rourke's office six weeks ago, alone, photographs on her phone, trying to hold everything together.
He thought about what it would mean to spend the next year in court.
Oliver at four years old.
At five.
Watching his parents fight over him in rooms he was never allowed to enter.
"I need to talk to Maya," Ryan said.
"Of course.
Take the time you need.
But Ryan — whatever you decide, the position of strength is yours.
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
Ryan went back inside.
Maya was in the room when he got there.
Oliver was asleep.
She looked up when Ryan came in and read his face before he said a word.
"The petition was suspended," she said.
"Yes."
She exhaled.
It wasn't relief exactly.
It was something more complicated — the release of something she had been holding for a very long time.
"Her lawyer offered a deal," Ryan said.
He sat down and told her the terms.
Maya listened without interrupting.
When he finished, she was quiet for a moment.
"Supervised visits," she said.
"She could still see him."
"Yes."
"And she withdraws everything.
The petition.
The fake doctor.
All of it."
"Permanently, in writing."
Maya looked at Oliver.
His small chest rose and fell.
The oxygen monitor was gone.
He was breathing on his own.
"She str\*ked me," Maya said.
"She took his inhaler.
She put a camera in his room." She paused.
"And she's offering a deal."
"I know."
"What do you want to do?"
Ryan looked at his son.
"I want it to be over," he said.
"I want Oliver to grow up without this hanging over him.
But I don't want her to walk away as though nothing happened."
Maya nodded slowly.
"Then we don't accept the deal as it stands."
"What do we add?"
Maya thought for a moment.
"She writes a statement.
Signed.
Acknowledging what she did.
Not for the court.
For Oliver." She met Ryan's eyes.
"When he's old enough to ask what happened, I want him to be able to read it in her own words."
Ryan was quiet.
"And if she won't?" he asked.
"Then we let the state attorney's office do what they're going to do anyway."
May you like
Ryan picked up his phone and called Rourke.
"We have a counter," he said.
