“I watched your father do the same thing to me for twenty-three years.
I stayed because I had nowhere to go.
I told myself it wasn’t that bad.
I told myself I deserved it.” Gloria’s voice cracked.
“And then I watched you do it to her, and I couldn’t—”
“You sent Margaret here?” Evan’s voice was low.
“You brought her into my house?”
“It was never your house,” I said.
Evan stood up.
The officer stepped forward.
Evan looked at him, then at the door, then at Emily.
“You think this is over?” he said.
“You think a recording and a lawyer are going to keep my daughter from me?
I’ll fight this.
I’ll fight until—”
“Mr.
Hartwell,” the officer said.
“You need to come with me.”
“For what?”
“Ass@ult.
Two counts.
The recordings have been reviewed.
There’s enough for an arrest tonight.”
Evan looked at Emily.
“You’re going to let them take me?
In front of my daughter?”
Emily looked at him.
For the first time all night, she didn’t flinch.
“You should have thought about Lily before you put a lighter to my arm,” she said.
The officer guided Evan toward the door.
He stopped in the frame.
“You’ll regret this,” he said.
“All of you.”
The door closed behind him.
Gloria sat at the table, her hands in her lap.
She looked at Emily.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“I’m sorry I didn’t stop him sooner.
I’m sorry I told you to be grateful.
I’m sorry I said you were lucky to have him.”
Emily didn’t respond.
“I’ll go,” Gloria said.
“I know I have to go.”
She stood up.
She looked at Lily sleeping in the stroller.
