I remembered telling Megan that Mom was only trying to help.

I put my forehead against the steering wheel.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t do that right now.”

Her voice steadied.

“Save the video. Save everything. Then get Emily and Owen away from her.”

I looked at the recording timer.

Twenty-three minutes.

“I will.”

“Daniel.”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t let Mom explain it before Emily gets to speak.”

That sentence stayed with me.

I ended the call.

Saved the recording in three places.

Then I drove home.

My Mother Was Smiling When I Walked In

By the time I entered through the garage, the house was quiet.

Too quiet.

I could hear Mom speaking from upstairs.

Her voice was soft now.

Almost cheerful.

I climbed the stairs.

When I reached the nursery doorway, she turned.

The change was immediate.

“Oh, good. You’re home.”

She smiled.

Owen was still in her arms.

Emily was sitting against the wall.

Someone had thrown a towel over the broken glass.

The prescription bottle was gone.

Mom walked toward me.

“Emily had a little dizzy spell.”

I looked at my wife.

She didn’t speak.

“She dropped a glass,” Mom continued. “I told her not to move because I didn’t want her cutting herself.”

I looked at the towel.

Then at Emily.

Then back at Mom.

“Where’s her medication?”

For the first time, the smile paused.

“What?”

“Emily’s medication.”

“I put it somewhere safe.”

I walked past her.

Emily looked up at me.

Her face was pale.

“Can you stand?”

She nodded automatically.

I crouched.

“Don’t.”

I slid one arm behind her back and the other beneath her knees.

Mom sighed behind me.

“Daniel, she’s perfectly capable of walking.”

I lifted Emily.

She grabbed my shirt.

Her hand was cold.

I carried her into our bedroom and lowered her onto the bed.

“Stay here.”

“Owen.”

“I’m getting him.”

I went back to the nursery.

Mom was standing beside the crib now.

Still holding my son.

“Give him to me.”

She frowned.

“He’s finally settling down.”

I held out my arms.

“Give me my son.”

She studied my face.

Then she handed Owen over.

Slowly.

“What’s gotten into you?”

I tucked him against my chest.

“Where are Emily’s pills?”

“I already told you. I put them away.”

“Where?”

“Daniel, your wife is taking prescription pain medication while caring for a newborn. Somebody has to think clearly.”

“Where are they?”

She crossed her arms.

“Kitchen cabinet.”

I nodded.

“Okay.”

That seemed to confuse her.

She expected an argument.

I didn’t give her one.

Instead, I took out my phone.

Mom watched me unlock it.

“What are you doing?”

I tapped the video.

Her own voice filled the nursery.

“Clean it up first.”

Mom stopped moving.

On the screen, Emily was kneeling beside the broken glass.

Mom stared at the phone.

Then at the bookshelf.

Then back at me.

The recording continued.

“You want your baby? Then prove you can take care of him.”

My mother’s face went pale.

“Daniel.”

I turned the volume down.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke.

Then she pointed at my phone.

“You recorded me?”

“Yes.”

“Without telling me?”

“Yes.”

She gave a short laugh.

“Unbelievable.”

I looked at her.

She shook her head.

“You have no idea what was happening before that recording.”

I turned the volume back up.

Her voice came through again.

“Then try harder.”

Mom’s jaw tightened.

“I was trying to motivate her.”

I said nothing.

“She has been lying in bed for weeks, Daniel.”

Nothing.

“I was joking about the glass.”

I looked down at Owen.

His eyes were closed.

Mom stepped closer.

“You know me.”

I looked up.

“I do.”

She seemed relieved.

Until I finished.

“That’s the problem.”

Her expression hardened.

“Emily has turned you against me.”

I slipped the phone into my pocket.

“Go pack.”

She blinked.

“What?”

“Your suitcase is in the guest room.”

“Daniel.”

“You have ten minutes.”

She stared at me.

“You’re throwing your mother out?”

Owen shifted against my chest.

I lowered my voice.

“I’m removing you from my house.”

Mom glanced toward our bedroom.

Then back at me.

“Because of her?”

I stepped between her and the hallway.

“Ten minutes.”

For once, Susan Miller had nothing to say.

She walked toward the guest room.

I stood in the nursery doorway until I heard the door close behind her.

Then I went back to Emily.

She was still sitting where I’d left her, staring at the blood on her hand.

I placed Owen carefully in her arms.

She pulled him against her chest.

I picked up my phone.

First, I called the medical service.

Then I called someone to clean the broken glass.

And before my mother’s ten minutes were up, I made one more call.

This time, I wasn’t asking a family member for help.

Someone Was Waiting Outside

My mother came downstairs nine minutes later.

I know because I watched the clock on the bedroom wall while Emily held Owen against her chest.

A paramedic named Rachel was checking Emily’s blood pressure. Another was asking when she had last taken her prescribed medication.

Emily looked at me.

“This morning.”

Then she corrected herself.

“I tried to.”

Rachel glanced toward the hallway.

“What happened to it?”

Before Emily could answer, I heard suitcase wheels hitting the stairs.

Mom appeared carrying her purse and dragging a blue suitcase behind her.

She stopped when she saw the medical bags.

“What is this?”

“They’re checking Emily.”

Mom looked offended.

“She doesn’t need an ambulance.”

Rachel turned.

“Ma’am, I need you to give us some space.”

Mom opened her mouth.

I stepped into the hallway.

“Keep moving.”

She stared at me.

“Where am I supposed to go?”

“A hotel. Megan’s. Anywhere you want.”

Her expression changed at Megan’s name.

“You called your sister?”

“Yes.”

Mom gripped the suitcase handle.

“Of course. Emily got Megan involved too.”

I walked downstairs and opened the front door.

That was when I saw the police cruiser.

Two officers were standing near the driveway.