Chapter 5 - PAIGE HAD SEEN THE WARNINGSMy sister-in-law Paige came to me the next morning.
She looked ashamed.
“I should have said something earlier.”
“Yes.”
She flinched.
I wasn’t cruel.
But I wasn’t going to comfort her immediately.
She admitted Elaine had been making comments for months.
Once:
“Emma won’t enjoy that money for long.”
Another time:
“When Lucas understands what Claire did, that child won’t have a trust left.”
Paige thought Elaine was venting.
Then the day of the party, she saw Elaine lead Emma toward the shed.
“Why didn’t you stop her?”
“I asked where they were going.”
“What did she say?”
“She said Emma broke something.”
Paige believed her.
Ten minutes later, she got nervous.
That was when I cornered her.
“I’m sorry.”
I nodded.
“I believe you.”
She looked relieved.
Then I added:
“But next time an adult walks a crying child toward a locked building, don’t wait for proof.”
May you like
She cried.
Fair.
