Chapter 7: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
Dad stared at his phone as though the words on the screen had physically struck him.
"Patricia, send me the document.""
"I already have. Mark, there's something else you need to know.""
"What?""
"Linda asked me to witness a signature last month. She said you were signing some insurance paperwork. I didn't think anything of it at the time.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Did you see me sign anything?""
"No. She brought the papers to my house and said you'd signed them earlier.""
"Did you sign as a witness?""
Patricia hesitated.
"Yes.""
Dad's voice became sharp.
"Patricia, what exactly did you witness?""
"I thought it was a household document. I didn't read every page.""
Dad ended the call after asking her to forward everything.
Then he sat down.
I had never seen him look so lost.
"Daddy?""
He looked up.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Are you going to stop being my daddy?""
His expression broke.
He pulled me into his arms.
"Never. Nothing in this world could make me stop being your father.""
I held onto his shirt.
But I remembered the way Linda had once said that Dad might have to choose between me and her.
And I wondered whether a piece of paper could really change a family.
The document arrived seven minutes later.
Dad opened it.
The first page contained my full name.
The second contained his.
The third had a signature that looked almost exactly like his handwriting.
But Dad shook his head immediately.
"That's not my signature.""
He enlarged the image.
"I never signed this.""
The document was titled Voluntary Temporary Guardianship and Educational Placement Authorization.
It stated that Mark Parker had agreed to allow another adult to make educational and residential decisions for his daughter.
The proposed guardian was Denise.
Patricia's cousin.
Dad read the document twice.
Then he noticed something.
The date.
It was the same day he had worked a double shift at the factory.
He looked at the clock.
"Emily, stay here.""
He walked upstairs.
I heard him knock on Linda's bedroom door.
"Open this door.""
No answer.
He knocked again.
"Linda!""
The door opened.
Linda stood there holding a phone.
Her expression was calm.
"What?""
Dad held up the document.
"Did you forge my signature?""
She looked at the screen.
Then she laughed.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"Did you?""
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
Dad stepped into the hallway.
"This document says I voluntarily agreed to let Denise take Emily.""
Linda's eyes flickered.
"Maybe you should read your paperwork before signing it.""
"I never signed it!""
She folded her arms.
"Then perhaps someone made a mistake.""
Dad shook his head.
"Your mother witnessed it.""
Linda's face changed.
For the first time, she looked genuinely betrayed.
"She told you?""
"Yes.""
Linda turned away.
"Unbelievable.""
Dad followed her into the room.
"Why would you do this?""
She threw her phone onto the bed.
"Because I couldn't live like this anymore!""
Dad stared at her.
"What does that mean?""
"It means I was drowning! I was taking care of a baby, managing the house, and dealing with a little girl who refused to accept me.""
Dad's voice rose.
"She was eight!""
"Stop saying that as if it changes everything!""
"It changes everything!""
Linda grabbed a pillow and threw it onto the bed.
"Every morning was the same! She wanted her father. She wanted her dead mother. She wanted everything to be exactly as it was before I came along.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"She wanted to go to school.""
Linda laughed bitterly.
"She wanted to make me miserable!""
Dad shook his head.
"You made her miss eleven days of school. You lied to her teacher. You created a fake medical document. And now you've forged my signature.""
Linda stepped closer.
"Do you know what would happen if Emily went to live with Denise? She would have a stable home. She would have someone who could give her attention.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you would never agree!""
Dad looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said something quietly.
"You're right.""
Linda blinked.
"What?""
"I wouldn't have agreed to send my daughter away.""
Downstairs, I sat on the couch with my school notebook in my lap.
I heard a door open.
Then footsteps.
Linda came down carrying a large handbag.
She stopped when she saw me.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Move.""
I stood.
She walked toward the front door.
Dad appeared behind her.
"Where are you going?""
"Out.""
"You're not taking Noah.""
Linda froze.
"Excuse me?""
Dad pointed toward the stairs.
"Noah stays here.""
She laughed.
"You can't tell me I can't take my own son.""
"I'm not discussing this in front of Emily.""
Linda looked at me.
Then she said something I would remember for years.
"You're happy now, aren't you?""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"You got exactly what you wanted. Your father believes every word you say.""
I held my notebook tighter.
"I just wanted to go to school.""
Linda's face twisted.
"Everything has to be about school with you.""
Dad stepped between us.
"That's enough.""
Linda turned toward him.
"If I leave, don't expect me to come back.""
Dad didn't answer.
She waited.
Then she picked up her handbag.
"Mark, I'm your wife.""
He looked exhausted.
"I know.""
"And I'm Noah's mother.""
"I know that too.""
"Then tell me you believe me.""
Dad stared at her.
"I believe my daughter.""
Linda's mouth fell open.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then she walked out.
The front door slammed.
I stood completely still.
Dad came toward me.
"Emily?""
I looked up.
"Is she coming back?""
He knelt.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
I nodded.
Then I asked:
"Can I go to school tomorrow?""
He smiled sadly.
"Yes. Absolutely.""
That evening, Patricia arrived.
She carried a small bag of baby clothes and looked as though she hadn't slept.
Dad showed her the forged document.
She sat down and covered her mouth.
"I signed as a witness.""
Dad nodded.
"Why didn't you read it?""
"I trusted my daughter.""
He didn't respond.
Patricia began crying.
"I thought I was helping her.""
Dad sat across from her.
"You need to tell the authorities exactly what happened.""
She nodded.
"I will.""
Then she looked toward me.
"Emily, sweetheart, I'm so sorry.""
I didn't know what to say.
I had spent months believing Linda was always right because she was an adult.
Now another adult was telling me she had been wrong.
I was beginning to understand that grown-ups could make terrible decisions too.
The next morning, Dad took me to school.
Mrs. Collins was waiting outside.
She smiled when she saw my yellow sweater.
"There's my favorite reader.""
I hugged her.
She led me toward the classroom.
My classmates were already inside.
When I walked through the door, several children turned.
"Emily!"" my friend Sophie shouted.
She ran over and hugged me.
"Where have you been?""
I smiled.
"I had some family problems.""
She pointed toward my desk.
"We saved your seat.""
My desk still had my name taped to the front.
My pencil box was there.
My old spelling book was there.
Even the little drawing of a sun I had taped inside the lid remained.
I sat down.
For the first time in months, I felt like an ordinary child.
But at 10:42, the school secretary came into the classroom.
She whispered something to Mrs. Collins.
My teacher's smile disappeared.
She walked over to me.
"Emily, sweetheart, I need you to come to the office.""
My stomach tightened.
"Am I in trouble?""
"No, darling.""
She held my hand.
"Your father is here.""
I followed her.
Dad was standing beside Ms. Reynolds.
His face was pale.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
He knelt and held both my shoulders.
"Linda has contacted the police.""
I felt my stomach drop.
"Why?""
Ms. Reynolds stepped forward.
"She has made an allegation that you took Noah out of his crib and left him unattended.""
I stared at her.
"I didn't.""
Dad immediately pulled me into his arms.
"I know.""
But then Ms. Reynolds opened her folder.
"There's something else. Linda has provided a recording that she claims supports her allegation.""
Dad looked up.
"What recording?""
Ms. Reynolds pressed a button on her phone.
And I heard my own voice.
Crying.
Saying something I had never said.
"Please don't tell Daddy. I didn't mean to hurt Noah.""
Dad's arms tightened around me.
Then the recording ended.
Ms. Reynolds looked at him.
"We need to establish where this recording came from.""
I looked at Dad.
"I never said that.""
He kissed my forehead.
"I believe you.""
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But somewhere inside me, a terrible question had begun to form.
If Linda could make a fake document with Dad's signature, what else could she make people believe?
