Chapter 5 - The Visitors
My mother and Bertha came to the hospital the next morning pretending to be devastated.
Margaret wore a pale blue cardigan and carried a crumpled tissue like a costume piece. Bertha kept one hand over her mouth, eyes red but dry, whispering, “Poor baby,” to anyone close enough to hear.
Officer Ross stood inside the room near the wall.
Nurse Maya stayed by the IV.
I did not invite them closer.
My mother looked at me with watery eyes. “Abigail, this is a terrible accident.”
I stared at her. “You laughed when I called.”
Her face tightened. “I was in shock.”
Bertha stepped forward. “Mom didn’t mean anything. You were screaming.”
“You said he got what he deserved.”
Bertha’s lips parted.
My mother turned to her sharply.
That was the first crack.
Hunter stirred beneath the blanket.
Everyone looked at him.
His eyes opened slowly. His gaze moved from me to the nurse, then to Officer Ross, then to my mother.
His breathing changed.
The monitor began beeping faster.
I leaned over him. “Baby, you’re safe.”
His small hand lifted from the blanket.
It shook terribly.
Then he pointed.
Straight at my mother.
“Monster.”
The word barely had sound, but it filled the room.
My mother stumbled backward.
May you like
Bertha screamed his name like she could scare him into silence.
But my son had already spoken.
