Chapter 9
Evelyn was paroled six months later.
For good behavior.
Six months early.
We were devastated.
She was supposed to be in prison for another six months.
Six more months of safety.
Six more months with our son.
But now she was free.
And she was coming home.
We immediately went back to court.
We asked the judge to extend the restraining order.
To make it permanent.
To make sure she couldn't come near Daniel.
The judge agreed.
The restraining order was made permanent.
Evelyn was ordered to stay away from all of us.
Including Daniel.
Forever.
But we knew it wouldn't be enough.
Not for Evelyn.
She had already proven she didn't respect restraining orders.
She had already proven she would do whatever it took to get what she wanted.
And what she wanted now was her grandson.
We increased security.
More cameras. Better locks. An alarm system that went directly to the police.
We talked to Daniel's daycare.
We gave them pictures of Evelyn.
We told them under no circumstances was she allowed to pick him up.
Or even see him.
We talked to our neighbors.
We asked them to watch for her.
To call the police if they saw her.
We were paranoid.
We were scared.
But we were also determined.
We weren't going to let her get to our son.
For a few months, nothing happened.
No letters. No flowers. No sign of Evelyn.
It was almost like she had disappeared.
But we knew better.
She was planning.
Waiting.
For the right moment.
And then...
It happened.
Daniel was three years old.
We were at the park.
It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
Mark was pushing Daniel on the swing.
I was watching them, smiling.
And then I saw her.
Across the park.
Standing behind a tree.
Watching.
Evelyn.
My blood ran cold.
"Mark," I said, my voice tight.
Mark looked at me.
He followed my gaze.
He saw her.
His face hardened.
He picked Daniel up.
He held him tight.
"Call the police," he said.
I pulled out my phone.
But before I could dial...
Evelyn started walking toward us.
Fast.
"Stay back!" Mark shouted. "You're violating the restraining order!"
Evelyn didn't stop.
She kept coming.
Her eyes were locked on Daniel.
"I just want to see him!" she shouted. "He's my grandson! I have a right to see him!"
She was getting closer.
People in the park were staring.
"Get back!" Mark said again. He held Daniel tighter.
The police arrived just as Evelyn reached us.
Two officers ran over.
They grabbed her.
She struggled. Screamed.
Tried to reach for Daniel.
"He's my grandson! You can't keep him from me! He's mine!"
The officers pulled her away.
She fought them every step of the way.
Mark and I held each other.
Daniel was crying.
Scared.
Confused.
"It's okay, buddy," Mark whispered to him. "Daddy's here. You're safe."
But I didn't feel safe.
I didn't feel safe at all.
Because Evelyn had proven what we had feared.
She would never stop.
She would never give up.
And as long as she was free...
May you like
Our son would never be safe.
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