Chapter 6
I stayed at Leah’s apartment.
The first night, I slept with the light on.
The second night, I did not sleep.
The third night, I woke up reaching for my cheek.
Leah made coffee and pretended not to notice me crying into the mug.
That was her kindness.
She knew when to fight and when to let silence sit beside me.
Ryan called constantly.
I blocked him.
Then Patricia called.
I blocked her too.
Then his father called.
I almost ignored it.
Leah said, “Speaker.”
I answered.
“Hello?”
“Maya, this is Thomas.”
Ryan’s father rarely spoke. Patricia did most of the speaking for everyone.
His voice sounded tired.
“I heard what happened.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Which version?”
A pause.
Then he said, “Ryan’s version first. Then the police came by.”
My stomach tightened.
“What do you want?”
“To say I’m sorry.”
I closed my eyes.
“I don’t need another apology from someone who watched Patricia run that family.”
He was silent.
Then, quietly, “You’re right.”
That surprised me.
He continued.
“I found something.”
Leah straightened.
“What?”
“My wife kept a folder in the office. Medical articles. Fertility calendars. Copies of your insurance card.”
My skin went cold.
“Copies?”
“Yes.”
“And there are emails between her and Ryan.”
I gripped the phone.
“What do they say?”
Thomas’s voice broke.
“They discuss stopping your birth control.”
The room tilted.
Leah whispered, “Ask him to send them.”
“Thomas,” I said, “will you give them to Detective Ramirez?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He exhaled shakily.
“Because I failed my son by letting his mother teach him women are managed, not loved.”
I did not comfort him.
But I believed him.
The next day, Detective Ramirez called.
Thomas had delivered everything.
Emails.
Receipts.
Messages.
A calendar marked with my cycle dates.
I vomited in Leah’s bathroom after hearing that.
Ryan had not only slapped me because I delayed a baby.
May you like
He and his mother had already been trying to force one into my body.
A body that pregnancy could kill.
