Chapter 2: They Had Planned to Replace Me

The car hadn't even left the courthouse parking lot before Graham's phone rang.

The social worker wanted us to come back to the courthouse and wait for temporary placement arrangements.

"See? It's just procedure." Graham turned the car around. "We cooperate, and this will all be over."

By the time we reached the hallway outside the courtroom, his mother, Patricia, was already there.

She didn't ask me a single question. She went straight to Tessa, linked her arm through hers, and smoothed a stray hair back from her ear.

"You always know just what to do. You bring out the best in Graham."

Tessa smiled and leaned into her.

I looked at Graham. "Lying in court is the best in him?"

The smile on Patricia's face vanished.

"Nora, for the family's reputation, sometimes personal sacrifices must be made. You should learn to see the bigger picture."

"Mom, stop," Graham said with a dismissive wave. "I'm taking it all back next week. There's no need to make a federal case out of it."

"You indulge her too much." Patricia patted Tessa's hand. "Tessa grew up with you. She understands the Veale family rules."

The gold sash was still draped across Graham's chest.

Standing there together, the three of them made me look like an outsider who had crashed their private party.

I turned to leave, but Graham stepped into my path.

"The social worker said we have to wait together."

"Move."

"Maisie's still in the waiting room," he said, lowering his voice. "Do you really want her to come out and see us fighting?"

I stopped.

Just a little longer.

Once I had Maisie, I would take her and leave. She didn't need to witness any more of my humiliation today.

This would be the last time I swallowed my pride for the sake of so-called family peace.

A little over ten minutes later, the door to the waiting room opened.

The social worker came out holding Maisie's hand. Behind her rolled the small suitcase with the teddy bear print—the one I had bought for her when she first came to live with us.

"Mommy."

Maisie had barely reached for me when Patricia swept in and scooped her up.

"Don't be scared, sweetheart." She stroked Maisie's hair. "Auntie Tessa is going to take very good care of you."

My heart stopped.

Tessa crouched down and pulled a juice box and Maisie's favorite cookies from her bag, so practiced it was as if she'd prepared for this all along.

"Are you hungry? I even brought you a surprise."

I stepped forward, but Patricia held up an arm to block me.

"Don't upset the child right now."

"I'm her mother."

"You're under investigation," she reminded me coldly.

Tessa had already put her phone in front of Maisie.

On the screen was a pink-and-white bedroom: a lace canopy, butterflies on the walls, and a wooden sign that read 'Maisie's New Home.'

Maisie's favorite color wasn't pink. It was blue. She loved stars.

This was Tessa's bedroom.

"Pretty, isn't it?" Tessa asked with a smile. "You get to sleep there tonight."

Graham glanced at the photo and actually nodded.

"Nicely done."

"Tonight?"

I slapped my hand over the phone.

"Who said you could take her?"

Tessa rose slowly, the triumph in her eyes impossible to hide.

The social worker stepped between us, file in hand, and spoke in a flat, procedural tone.

"Ms. Bell, according to the documents, while the primary guardian is under investigation, temporary custody will be transferred to the registered backup caregiver, Miss Tessa Moore."

I froze.

"When was she registered?"

The social worker turned to the signature page.

"One year ago. The documents were jointly signed by your husband and Miss Moore and filed with the Department of Children's Services."

Independence Day. Last year.

Graham had once laughed and told me Tessa had dared him to do something 'you'll definitely be jealous when you find out.'

I'd thought it was just another one of their crass jokes.

It turned out that from that moment on, they had been carefully replacing me in Maisie's life, one legal document, one signature at a time.

The social worker bent down and picked up the teddy bear suitcase from the floor beside me.

The handle brushed against my hand.

Then she handed it to Tessa.