Chapter 5: The Baby's Bracelet
Linda walked upstairs and returned carrying a small white box.
She placed it on the coffee table.
"I didn't want to bring this up," she said, "but I can't let everyone pretend Emily is completely innocent.""
Dad looked at the box.
"What's that?""
"Something that happened last month.""
She opened it.
Inside was a tiny silver bracelet with a blue heart attached.
I recognized it immediately.
It belonged to Noah.
Linda picked it up carefully.
"This was a gift from my mother. It was expensive, and it meant a lot to me.""
Dad frowned.
"What's that got to do with Emily?""
Linda looked at me.
"She took it.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"Don't pretend you don't know.""
"I didn't!""
Linda turned toward Ms. Reynolds.
"One afternoon, I found her playing with Noah's bracelet. When I asked where she got it, she lied.""
I shook my head.
"I never touched it!""
Linda sighed.
"Mark, I didn't want to embarrass her in front of everyone.""
Dad looked confused.
"When did this happen?""
"About three weeks ago.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I handled it privately.""
Mrs. Collins leaned forward.
"Did you report the bracelet missing?""
Linda looked at her.
"Why would I do that? It was in the house.""
"Did Emily admit taking it?""
"Eventually.""
I felt tears running down my cheeks.
"I didn't!""
Linda ignored me.
"She cried and promised not to do it again.""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Emily, is there something you're not telling me?""
I shook my head desperately.
"No, Daddy. I never took anything.""
Linda held up the bracelet.
"Then explain why it was in your bedroom.""
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because I remembered.
I remembered finding that bracelet beneath the sofa while sweeping.
I remembered placing it on the kitchen counter.
I remembered Linda taking it away.
But I hadn't known where she put it afterward.
"She told me to pick it up," I whispered.
Linda laughed.
"That's convenient.""
Ms. Reynolds raised her hand.
"Mrs. Parker, I'd like to ask you a question.""
Linda turned.
"Of course.""
"Was Emily ever left alone with Noah?""
"Of course not.""
I looked up.
"But I was.""
Linda's expression sharpened.
"Emily, don't interrupt.""
Mrs. Collins gently squeezed my hand.
"Let her speak.""
I swallowed.
"Sometimes Linda went upstairs to sleep. She told me to watch Noah.""
Dad turned toward Linda.
"Is that true?""
She looked irritated.
"I was in the house.""
"That isn't what I asked.""
"I can't be expected to sit beside the baby every second.""
Ms. Reynolds made a note.
"How often did this happen?""
Linda looked at the ceiling.
"I don't know. Occasionally.""
I whispered, "Every morning.""
Dad looked at me.
"What?""
"She gave me Noah after breakfast. Then she went upstairs.""
Linda stood.
"That is not true!""
I jumped.
Mrs. Collins immediately moved closer to me.
Ms. Reynolds closed her folder.
"Mrs. Parker, please sit down.""
Linda remained standing.
"You people are turning a simple family disagreement into something terrible.""
Dad looked at the bracelet.
Then at me.
"Emily, sweetheart, did you ever lose Noah's bracelet?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"Did you ever put it in your room?""
"No.""
Linda suddenly reached for the box.
"Enough. I'm done discussing this.""
But Ms. Reynolds stopped her.
"Please leave the item on the table.""
Linda's hand froze.
Then she withdrew it.
After the meeting, Mrs. Collins took me outside.
Dad stayed inside with Ms. Reynolds.
We sat on a wooden bench near the driveway.
The afternoon sun was warm, but I was still shivering.
"Emily," Mrs. Collins said gently, "I want you to understand something.""
I looked at her.
"You are not responsible for taking care of Noah all day. You're his sister. You're not his parent.""
I stared at the ground.
"But he's my brother.""
"Yes. And you can love him without having to raise him.""
I thought about all the mornings when he cried and I held him against my shoulder.
"I don't want him to be sad.""
Mrs. Collins smiled sadly.
"I know.""
She reached into her bag and gave me a small notebook.
"This is for school. You can write your thoughts, draw pictures, or practice your spelling.""
I held it carefully.
"Can I really keep it?""
"Of course.""
I opened the first page.
There was a little handwritten message.
Welcome back, Emily. We saved your place.
I smiled.
Then I asked the question that had been sitting inside me for weeks.
"Will I have to go home with Linda?""
Mrs. Collins looked toward the house.
"I don't know yet, sweetheart. But the adults are working on making sure you're safe.""
I nodded.
For the first time, I understood that grown-ups could sometimes admit they didn't know everything.
That evening, Dad made dinner.
He burned the toast.
I almost laughed.
It was the first time I had seen him cooking since Mom died.
Linda remained upstairs.
Noah was in his crib.
Dad placed scrambled eggs on my plate.
"I know this isn't much.""
"It's okay.""
He sat across from me.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to speak with my supervisor. I'm taking some time off.""
I looked up.
"Really?""
"Really.""
"Will you take me to school?""
He smiled.
"Every morning.""
I ate quietly.
Then I remembered something.
"Daddy?""
"Yes?""
"Can we go to the library?""
He put down his fork.
"The library?""
"I want to borrow books. I missed reading.""
His eyes filled.
"Of course we can.""
I smiled.
Then something crashed upstairs.
A drawer slammed.
We both looked toward the ceiling.
Dad stood.
"Stay here.""
He went upstairs.
I heard Linda's voice.
"You've made me look like a monster!""
Dad answered quietly.
"Lower your voice. Emily can hear you.""
"Good! Maybe she should hear what happens when someone destroys a marriage!""
A door slammed.
Dad returned several minutes later.
His face was pale.
"Is everything okay?"" I asked.
He sat down.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
But he wasn't looking at me.
He was looking at his phone.
A message had appeared.
I couldn't read the entire thing, but I saw the sender's name.
Linda's mother.
Dad opened it.
His expression changed.
"What is it?"" I asked.
He hesitated.
Then he turned the phone toward me.
It was a photograph.
A picture of Noah's silver bracelet.
But the bracelet wasn't in the white box.
It was on a woman's wrist.
Underneath the photograph was a message.
Linda told me Emily stole this. I think you should know what really happened before you make any decisions.
Dad read it twice.
Then he called the number.
Nobody answered.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
Finally, he sent a message.
I need to speak with you. Tonight.
A few minutes later, his phone rang.
He answered immediately.
"Hello?""
A woman's trembling voice came through the speaker.
"Mark, I'm sorry. I've wanted to tell you for weeks.""
Dad stood.
"Tell me what?""
The woman took a shaky breath.
Then she said:
"Linda didn't just hide Emily's backpack. She told me she was planning to send the little girl away.""
My heart stopped.
Dad gripped the phone.
"Send her where?""
The woman whispered:
"To live with a relative who doesn't even know Emily is coming.""
Dad looked at me.
Then the woman added something that made him go completely silent.
"Mark, there's something else. Linda has been telling people that Emily has serious behavioral problems. She's been collecting documents to prove it.""
Dad's voice became almost inaudible.
"What documents?""
May you like
The woman answered:
"A letter from a doctor. And I know exactly how she got it.""
