Chapter 6 - The Hearing
Claire listened to the recording twice.
The second time, she stopped crying.
She just stared at the phone.
“He said I’d take the fall?”
“Yes.”
“He told me Aaron would protect us.”
“Apparently Aaron was protecting Nathan.”
She looked sick.
I didn’t comfort her.
Part of me wanted to.
That frightened me.
Eleven years of instinct didn’t disappear because the truth arrived.
Claire sat down.
“He used me.”
I leaned against the wall.
“You also used me.”
Her eyes filled.
“I know.”
“No. I need you to understand that.”
“I do.”
“You don’t get to turn Nathan into the only villain because he betrayed you too.”
She nodded slowly.
“You’re right.”
It was the first time she had said it without defending herself afterward.
The next morning, we went to court.
Rebecca came.
So did Detective Grant.
Nathan didn’t.
Marissa met me outside the courtroom.
“Stay calm.”
“I am calm.”
“You’re gripping that folder like it insulted your mother.”
I looked at my hand.
She was right.
I loosened my fingers.
Inside, Claire sat with her own attorney.
We didn’t speak.
When the judge entered, everything became painfully formal.
Names.
Dates.
Addresses.
Then Marissa presented the messages discussing Eli.
The attempted school pickup.
The Wisconsin cabin.
The financial-fraud investigation.
Claire’s attorney objected to some parts.
The judge listened.
Then Claire asked to speak.
Her lawyer whispered urgently.
Claire shook her head.
The judge looked at her.
“Mrs. Carter?”
Claire stood.
“Your Honor, I want to clarify something.”
Her voice trembled.
“The school incident was not authorized by me.”
The judge nodded.
“Continue.”
“But…”
Claire looked toward me.
“I created the circumstances that allowed it to happen.”
Her attorney closed his eyes.
Claire kept talking.
“I had an affair with Nathan West.”
No one moved.
“I gave him information about my son’s school.”
She swallowed.
“I discussed leaving with my son without his father’s agreement.”
The judge’s expression hardened.
“And I participated in a loan application using my husband’s signature without his permission.”
My heart pounded.
Her attorney whispered, “Claire.”
She ignored him.
“I don’t think Daniel should lose access to Eli.”
Her voice broke.
“And right now, I understand why he’s afraid I might make another terrible decision.”
I stared at her.
I had expected excuses.
Instead, for once, she gave the truth.
The judge issued temporary orders.
Eli would remain primarily with me.
Claire would have scheduled parenting time.
Neither parent could take him out of the county without written agreement or court permission.
Nathan West was prohibited from being present during Claire’s parenting time.
Claire did not argue.
Outside the courtroom, she approached me.
Marissa stepped closer.
I nodded that it was okay.
Claire stopped several feet away.
“I’m sorry.”
I looked at her.
“Not today.”
She nodded.
“I understand.”
Rebecca walked toward us.
Claire turned.
The two women stared at each other.
Claire spoke first.
“I owe you an apology too.”
Rebecca’s eyes hardened.
“You owe my daughter one.”
Claire’s face collapsed.
“I know.”
“You sat with Olivia when she cried over her first breakup.”
Rebecca’s voice shook.
“She trusted you.”
Claire whispered, “I know.”
Rebecca took one step closer.
“No. You keep saying that because it’s easier than saying what you did.”
Claire started crying.
Rebecca continued.
“You helped destroy two families.”
Claire didn’t defend herself.
“You’re right.”
Rebecca stared at her for several seconds.
Then walked away.
That afternoon, Detective Grant called.
They had located Aaron West.
He agreed to cooperate.
Apparently, Nathan had promised him ten thousand dollars for notarizing the false application.
Aaron claimed he believed Claire and I were already separated.
Detective Grant didn’t sound impressed.
“Believing a story does not make a false notarization legal.”
“What about Nathan?”
“We’re working on it.”
“Is he missing?”
“Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“His phone is off, and he hasn’t returned home.”
Rebecca confirmed Nathan had removed clothes and a suitcase.
That evening, I changed the locks after my attorney confirmed I could under the temporary arrangement and gave Claire appropriate access only when required.
Claire had moved into her mother’s old condo.
Eli cried when she left.
That nearly broke me more than the affair.
“Why can’t Mommy stay?”
I sat on the floor beside him.
“Mommy and Daddy need different houses for a while.”
“Did I do something?”
“No.”
“Because I told you Mr. West was here?”
My entire chest tightened.
I pulled him onto my lap.
“No, buddy.”
Tears filled his eyes.
“If I didn’t tell you, Mommy could stay.”
I held his face.
“Listen to me.”
He sniffled.
“You did nothing wrong.”
“But—”
“Nothing.”
I hugged him.
“Adults make adult choices. Children are never responsible for fixing them or hiding them.”
He buried his face against my chest.
“I want both of you.”
“I know.”
I sat there holding him until he stopped crying.
Later that night, I found his stuffed dinosaur beside my suitcase.
I stared at it.
The surprise gift from the drive home.
The last innocent thing from my old life.
My phone rang.
Rebecca.
“Daniel?”
Her voice sounded strange.
“What happened?”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“Nathan left his desktop computer.”
I stood.
“Don’t touch anything if the police need it.”
“I already called Detective Grant.”
“Okay.”
“But there’s something you should know now.”
I waited.
Rebecca took a breath.
“There are folders for you and Claire.”
My skin prickled.
“What kind of folders?”
“Photos. Financial information. Travel schedules.”
I gripped the phone.
Then Rebecca said the part that made my blood run cold.
“There’s another folder too.”
“Whose?”
“A woman named Stephanie Miller.”
I didn’t recognize the name.
Rebecca continued.
“I searched her.”
May you like
Her voice cracked.
“She filed for bankruptcy last year after someone emptied a home-equity account.”
