Chapter 2 - I SAVED THE CUPMy first instinct was to pour everything down the sink.
I didn’t.
That decision later mattered more than any clever thing I said.
I set the teacup back on the table.
Carefully.
“No one touches that.”
Eleanor laughed.
“Nora.”
“No.”
I picked up the white container too.
Julian reached toward me.
I pulled it away.
His hand stopped in midair.
“I wasn’t taking it.”
“I don’t know what anyone is doing anymore.”
Chloe began crying.
That cut through everything.
I crouched.
“Hey.”
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
“Grandma looked mad.”
“You did exactly the right thing.”
Eleanor said:
“We are terrifying a child over vitamins.”
I turned.
“Then tell me the vitamin.”
Silence.
“Tell me.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Vitamins usually aren’t.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“Mom, stop.”
I looked at him.
“You know the name.”
He stared at the receipt.
“Yes.”
“Who is Denis Vale?”
Eleanor said sharply:
“Not in front of Chloe.”
Again.
Not:
No idea.
Not:
Wrong receipt.
Not:
Let me explain the tea.
Not in front of Chloe.
I picked up my phone.
Eleanor’s eyes narrowed.
“Who are you calling?”
“Our pediatrician first.”
“For what?”
“Because Chloe has eaten breakfast in a room where you’re putting unidentified powder into drinks.”
“I never gave Chloe anything.”
“Then that should be easy to establish.”
Julian said:
“Nora, maybe we should—”
“No.”
My voice broke.
I hated that.
I wanted to sound controlled.
Instead I sounded frightened.
Which was accurate.
“Chloe gets examined. I get examined. Then we talk.”
Eleanor’s posture changed.
“You are going to humiliate this family over something you don’t understand.”
I looked at her.
“Then help me understand.”
May you like
She didn’t.
So I called.
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