Chapter 11 - The Sanctuary of Home
Forty-eight hours after being discharged from St. Jude Memorial Hospital, Lily and I were safely settled in the quiet guest bedroom of my parents’ house in Westchester.
The room smelled faintly of lavender and warm formula. My mother had transformed the space into a secure, peaceful cocoon, keeping the door firmly locked against any uninvited visitors. My father had already consulted a powerhouse family law attorney in Manhattan, initiating emergency custody filings and restraining orders before Ryan or Judith even realized what hit them.
I sat in the rocking chair by the window, holding Lily against my chest. Her breathing was steady, deep, and completely natural.
My phone—which I had left on the bedside table with the sound muted—flashed repeatedly with desperate incoming messages.
Ryan: Nora, please, let me explain. Mom is beside herself. CPS came to our apartment this morning.
Ryan: We can go to counseling. Just don't keep my daughter away from me.
Judith: You ungrateful, malicious little girl. You ruined our family over a tiny misunderstanding.
May you like
I picked up the phone, tapped on Judith’s contact, and selected Block Contact. Then I did the same for Ryan, redirecting all future communication strictly through our attorneys.
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