Chapter 5 - THE PETITION
The unsigned court petition described me as unstable.
It claimed I suffered from uncontrollable anger.
It said I was planning to disappear with Lily.
It accused me of refusing to allow Jason’s family to participate in our daughter’s life.
Six weeks before Diane struck Lily, Jason had already prepared a case to take her from me.
My hands shook as I read the final page.
Jason’s signature appeared above the date.
The document had been drafted by the same attorney now representing Diane.
Mara studied every line.
“Who sent this?”
“I don’t know.”
The email contained no message beyond the subject line.
The photograph had been taken on a kitchen counter.
A corner of Diane’s ivory rug appeared in the background.
Mara forwarded the file to a digital investigator.
Then she asked me a question I was not prepared to answer.
“Did Jason know you were gathering evidence?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Did he know the bag was packed?”
“No.”
“Did anyone?”
I remembered Brooke standing near our bedroom during Christmas.
She had opened the closet while pretending to look for wrapping paper.
The emergency bag had been hidden behind winter coats.
I had moved it afterward.
Maybe Brooke had seen it.
Maybe she had told Diane.
Maybe the birthday dinner was not simply another family gathering.
Perhaps they had been waiting for me to react.
Mara requested communications between Jason, Diane, Brooke, and their attorney.
She warned me that obtaining them would take time.
At the emergency hearing, Diane wore a neck brace.
She entered the courtroom leaning on Brooke’s arm.
The dramatic performance would have been almost impressive if I had not watched her walk perfectly outside the building two days earlier.
Jason sat beside his mother.
He looked at Lily but did not smile.
He looked at me but did not speak.
Diane’s attorney played Brooke’s edited clip.
Mara immediately presented the full version.
The courtroom fell silent when Diane’s hand struck Lily.
Even the judge’s expression changed.
Jason lowered his eyes.
Mara then played Jason’s voicemail.
Mom didn’t mean to hurt Lily.
She was embarrassed about the rug.
The judge removed her glasses.
“Mr. Bennett, did you seek medical care for your daughter?”
Jason swallowed.
“No.”
“Did you check the injury?”
“No.”
“Did you tell your mother that striking a toddler was unacceptable?”
“I planned to speak with her privately.”
“When?”
Jason could not answer.
The judge extended my temporary sole custody.
Jason received two supervised visits each week.
Diane was barred from all contact with Lily.
The judge also warned me.
“Mrs. Bennett, striking your spouse was unacceptable.”
“I understand.”
“Protecting your child does not authorize retaliation.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
I accepted the reprimand.
I needed Lily to grow up knowing that violence was not justice.
Outside the courtroom, Jason approached me.
A court officer remained between us.
“Emily, I didn’t file that petition.”
“You signed it.”
“Mom said it was only a precaution.”
“A precaution against what?”
He looked toward Diane.
“Against you leaving.”
The elevator doors opened behind him.
Diane stepped inside without waiting.
Jason stayed in the hallway.
For one brief second, he looked like he might follow me instead of her.
Then Diane called his name.
Jason turned and entered the elevator.
The doors closed.
Mara watched them disappear.
“He just admitted the custody petition was real.”
My phone vibrated.
The anonymous sender had emailed again.
May you like
This time, the message contained one sentence.
Ask Jason what happened the night Lily broke her arm.
