Chapter 6 - TWENTY SECONDS Dad answered on the first ring.
"What happened the day Emma stopped breathing?"
Silence.
Then his voice cracked.
"I wasn't there."
"Who was?"
"Margaret and Lauren."
My body went numb.
It had happened three weeks after James deployed.
I had left Emma with Mom for two hours.
Mom had told me afterward that Emma slept peacefully.
She hadn't.
Dad explained what really happened.
Emma cried until she gagged.
Lauren had been holding her.
Then suddenly, Emma went silent.
She stopped breathing.
Mom panicked.
She grabbed the baby, patted her back, and after terrifying seconds, Emma began crying again.
Twenty seconds.
Twenty seconds that could have changed everything.
"Why didn't anyone call me?"
Dad cried.
"Your mother said you would never trust her again."
"She was right."
James closed his eyes.
"Was Emma taken to a doctor?"
"No."
"Why?"
"They called a nurse line."
"And you told nobody?"
"No."
I ended the call.
The next morning, Lauren posted again.
This time she accused us of harassment.
Then James received a call from his commanding officer.
Someone had contacted his military unit.
The accusation was that James had used his military position to intimidate a civilian.
James calmly explained the situation.
"I have video of the entire incident, sir."
After he hung up, I looked at him.
"She attacked your career."
"She tried."
"She's scared."
He looked at me.
"Exactly."
Three hard knocks hit our front door.
James checked the security camera.
A woman stood outside.
Dark coat.
Identification badge.
Professional expression.
"Claire Walker?"
I felt my stomach drop.
"Yes?"
"I'm Dana Brooks with Child Protective Services."
May you like
James looked at me.
The war had just entered our home.
Related Stories
