Chapter 5: The Empty Nursery
I didn't sleep that night.
Every sound outside the hospital room felt like a footstep.
Every shadow under the door looked like Eric.
My father stayed beside me.
At 3:16 a.m., I whispered, “Dad?””
He woke instantly.
“What?””
“Did Eric ever say he didn't want the baby?””
Dad sat up.
“Why are you asking?””
“He keeps talking like the baby is something he owns.””
Dad looked at me.
“No one owns her.””
Tears slipped down my face.
“I don't know who I married.””
He took my hand.
“Neither do I.””
By morning, the hospital had added extra security around my floor.
My attorney arrived with a stack of documents and a face that told me the situation was worse than I had thought.
“Eric's attorney contacted mine,” she said.
“He's filing for emergency access?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
“He is claiming you are deliberately preventing him from seeing his unborn child.””
I stared at her.
“He left me on the road.””
“I know.””
“He caused this.””
“I know.””
“So why can he make that accusation?””
“Because accusations are cheap.””
She opened a folder.
“We're going to answer with evidence.””
The next document was the forged power of attorney.
The next was the bank activity.
The next was Marcus's statement.
Then the video.
My lawyer looked at me.
“This isn't about winning an argument with your husband anymore.””
“What is it about?””
“Protecting you and the baby.””
That afternoon, Dad went to the house.
I stayed at the hospital.
He called me from the nursery.
“He's been here.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“Someone got inside.””
“Eric?””
“I don't know yet.””
I gripped the phone.
“What did they take?””
Dad's silence scared me.
“The nursery is untouched.””
“Then what?””
“Your mother's documents.””
I closed my eyes.
“They're gone?””
“Most of them.””
“Dad…”
“I left copies at my office.””
I exhaled.
Then he said, “There is something else.””
“What?””
“The baby monitor.””
“What about it?””
“It wasn't yours.””
I sat upright.
“What do you mean?””
“The monitor in the nursery was connected to an account registered to Eric.””
My skin prickled.
“He could watch the house?””
“Yes.””
He could see me.
Hear me.
Know when I was home.
Know when I left.
Know when I was alone.
My father said, “We're removing everything.””
That evening, I was finally discharged.
We drove to Dad's house instead of mine.
I thought the danger would end there.
It didn't.
At 9:08 p.m., someone rang the doorbell.
Dad looked through the camera.
Eric stood on the porch.
He wasn't angry.
He wasn't shouting.
He was smiling.
“Claire,” he called through the closed door, “I know you're in there.””
Dad stepped toward the entrance.
My lawyer caught his arm.
“Don't.””
Eric held up a folder.
“I brought something for my wife.””
Dad shouted, “Leave.””
Eric shook his head.
“No.””
Then he looked directly into the camera.
“I brought the original birth plan.””
My heart froze.
That was impossible.
Only three people had seen that document.
Me.
My doctor.
And Eric.
He lifted another paper.
“And there's something in it Claire doesn't know.””
My father moved closer to the monitor.
“What did you do?””
Eric's smile disappeared.
“I didn't do anything.””
He held the paper toward the camera.
“Your daughter did.””
My blood ran cold.
May you like
Eric continued.
“Ask her why the hospital thinks the baby is at risk.””
