Chapter 16 - The Anonymous Call
“I didn’t do it.”
Victoria stood in Aaron’s kitchen.
He watched her face.
Months earlier, he might have chosen belief or disbelief based on emotion.
Now he asked questions.
“When did you learn Natalie was requesting an overnight?”
“Tuesday.”
“The complaint came Wednesday.”
“I know.”
“Who else knew?”
“You. Me. Natalie. The attorneys. Dr. Patel.”
“And Caroline.”
“Yes.”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“You think I called.”
“I think the timing matters.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“No.”
Lily was not home.
She was at Caroline’s.
Aaron had chosen not to confront Victoria in front of her.
Victoria folded her arms.
“I deserve suspicion.”
Aaron said nothing.
“That’s the worst part.”
She sat.
“I built this.”
Aaron’s anger softened slightly.
“Did you call?”
“No.”
“Did you tell anyone?”
Victoria hesitated.
Aaron noticed.
“Who?”
“My sister.”
“Denise?”
“Yes.”
“What did you tell her?”
“That Natalie wanted an overnight.”
“Anything about her recovery?”
“Denise already knows.”
Aaron closed his eyes.
Victoria’s sister had disliked Natalie for years based entirely on Victoria’s version of events.
“Call her.”
Victoria stared.
“Now.”
She did.
Denise answered cheerfully.
Victoria put the phone on speaker.
“Did you call Natalie’s employer?”
Silence.
Aaron felt his stomach drop.
“Denise?”
Her sister’s voice became defensive.
“I was protecting Lily.”
Victoria stood.
“What did you do?”
“I just told them they should know who they employ.”
Aaron’s jaw tightened.
Victoria went pale.
“You had no right.”
“You’ve spent years telling me that woman is unstable.”
“I was wrong.”
“Now suddenly she’s Mother of the Year because she wrote some letters?”
Victoria’s voice sharpened.
“She is Lily’s mother, and you do not get to punish her because of things I told you.”
Denise scoffed.
“You’re defending her?”
“Yes.”
The word came without hesitation.
Aaron stared at Victoria.
Denise became angry.
“She could hurt that child.”
“What recent relapse did you report?”
Another silence.
“You lied.”
“I exaggerated.”
“You lied.”
Victoria hung up.
Then she immediately called Natalie.
Aaron expected her to ask permission.
She did not.
Natalie answered cautiously.
“Hello?”
Victoria’s voice shook.
“My sister made the call.”
Silence.
“I told her about the overnight. She used things I’d told her about your history.”
Natalie’s voice became cold.
“Why did you tell her?”
“Because she’s my sister.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Victoria closed her eyes.
“You’re right.”
Aaron recognized the phrase.
“I’m sorry.”
Natalie said nothing.
Victoria continued.
“I have texts showing what I told Denise and that there was no recent relapse. I’ll send them to your attorney or employer if you want.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll also give a statement.”
“Yes.”
Natalie’s breathing was audible.
Then she said, “Thank you for telling me.”
Not forgiveness.
Responsibility.
After the call, Victoria sat down.
“I did this.”
Aaron shook his head.
“Denise made the call.”
“I spent years teaching her Natalie was dangerous.”
“That matters.”
Victoria nodded.
“But it isn’t the same as making the call.”
She looked at him.
“You’re defending me?”
“I’m being accurate.”
The distinction affected them both.
Natalie’s employer investigated and concluded there was no basis for disciplinary action.
The false claim had been damaging but temporary.
Denise apologized privately.
Natalie declined contact.
Victoria stopped sharing Lily’s custody details with her sister.
The overnight remained scheduled.
Friday arrived.
Lily packed her own bag.
Pajamas.
Green toothbrush because Natalie’s spare was apparently “too boring.”
Stuffed rabbit.
Three books.
Aaron stood beside the front door.
The same entryway.
The same bench.
The shoebox was no longer there.
Lily zipped the backpack.
“Stop staring.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m your father.”
“You say that for everything.”
Natalie’s car pulled into the driveway.
Aaron’s chest tightened.
Lily hugged him.
“I’ll call before bed.”
“You don’t have to if you’re having fun.”
“I said I will.”
“Okay.”
She walked outside.
Natalie remained near the car.
She gave Aaron space.
He forced himself to ask the question he had been avoiding.
“You have your meeting tomorrow morning?”
Natalie blinked.
Recovery meeting.
“Yes.”
“What will Lily do?”
“Renee is coming over. They’ll make pancakes while I join online from the bedroom.”
Aaron nodded.
“Okay.”
Natalie looked at him.
“You can ask.”
“What?”
“If I’m worried about relapse.”
Aaron’s jaw tightened.
“Are you?”
Natalie considered.
“Recovery means I always take relapse seriously.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“No. I am not currently experiencing cravings or instability that make me unsafe to care for Lily.”
Aaron exhaled.
“Thank you.”
Lily called from the car.
“Can we go?”
Natalie laughed.
“Yes.”
They left.
Aaron stood in the driveway until the car disappeared.
Victoria came up behind him.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Do you want me to stay?”
Aaron looked at her.
For the first time since she moved out, he said yes.
They ordered dinner.
Talked.
Did not discuss Natalie for an hour.
At 8:17 Lily video-called.
She was wearing pajamas.
Behind her was a small bedroom decorated with temporary paper stars.
“Look!”
Aaron smiled.
“It’s nice.”
“Mom let me choose where the stars go.”
Natalie appeared briefly.
“Apparently ceiling symmetry is oppressive.”
Lily giggled.
Aaron did too.
“Goodnight, kiddo.”
“Goodnight, Daddy.”
“I love you.”
“Love you.”
The call ended.
Aaron stared at the black screen.
Victoria sat beside him.
“She’s okay.”
“Yes.”
“You’re okay.”
“Debatable.”
Victoria smiled.
Aaron reached for her hand.
It was the first spontaneous touch between them in months.
Then his phone rang again.
Caroline.
Her voice sounded strange.
“Aaron, I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Did Natalie ever tell you why she relapsed four years ago?”
Aaron frowned.
“No.”
Caroline hesitated.
“I think I know.”
She had found one final document in Frank’s storage.
Not a letter from Frank.
A hospital record.
And attached to it was a police report involving Natalie.
But Natalie was not listed as the suspect.
May you like
Aaron was.
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