Chapter 13
Daniel's seventh birthday.
We had a party.
At our house.
With his friends from school.
With our family.
We had security.
Cameras. Guards.
Everything.
We were determined nothing would ruin Daniel's birthday.
And for a while, it worked.
The party was perfect.
The kids played games. They ate cake. They opened presents.
Daniel was happy.
Laughing. Smiling.
Everything we wanted for him.
And then...
One of the other mothers came up to me.
She was holding a present.
Wrapped in pretty paper.
"A woman gave this to me," she said. "She said she was Daniel's grandmother. That she couldn't stay. But she wanted him to have this."
My blood ran cold.
"Where is she?" I asked.
"She left already," the woman said. "She just gave me the present and walked away. She seemed nice. I'm sorry, I didn't know—"
"It's okay," I said, taking the present. "Thank you for telling me."
I took the present inside.
Mark was there.
I told him what had happened.
He wanted to throw it away.
But I stopped him.
"Wait," I said. "If we give it to the police... maybe they can find fingerprints. DNA. Something."
Mark nodded.
We called the police.
They came.
They took the present.
They dusted for fingerprints.
They took samples for DNA.
And then...
We waited.
A week later, the police called.
They had found something.
A fingerprint.
On the wrapping paper.
It matched Evelyn's.
They had proof.
Finally.
Evelyn was arrested.
Again.
This time, the charges were serious.
Violation of a court order.
Contempt of court.
Child endangerment.
Stalking.
And because her rights to Daniel had been terminated...
She was also charged with custodial interference.
A felony.
This time, she wasn't getting off easy.
The evidence was overwhelming.
Her fingerprint on the present.
The testimony from the other mother.
The history of harassment.
The previous convictions.
The terminated rights.
Evelyn's lawyer tried to fight it.
But there was nothing he could do.
The evidence was too strong.
Evelyn was found guilty on all counts.
And this time...
The judge threw the book at her.
"Ms. Carter," the judge said. "You have repeatedly violated court orders. You have repeatedly harassed and terrorized this family. You have attempted to insert yourself into the life of a child who is legally not yours. And you have caused significant emotional harm to everyone involved."
He paused.
"You have shown no remorse. No willingness to change. No respect for the law or for the rights of others. And I am convinced that you will continue this behavior if given the opportunity."
He looked at Evelyn.
"Therefore, I sentence you to ten years in the state penitentiary. With no possibility of parole. And when you are released, you will be subject to a permanent restraining order, prohibiting you from any contact with the Carter family, directly or indirectly, for the rest of your natural life."
He banged his gavel.
Ten years.
Ten long years.
And a permanent restraining order for life.
Evelyn was led away.
She didn't look at us.
She didn't say anything.
She just walked.
And this time...
We knew.
She wouldn't be coming back.
Not for a very long time.
And when she did...
She would be an old woman.
And Daniel would be an adult.
Able to protect himself.
Able to make his own decisions.
We had won.
Finally.
May you like
Permanently.
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