Chapter 6 - The Confrontation at the House
Instead of going straight home, I pulled into the driveway of my parents' suburban house. I knew Kara's car would still be there; they always had Sunday dinner together. I left the car running with the AC on and Elliot fast asleep in the back, locked the doors securely with my spare key fob, and marched up to the front door.
I didn't knock. I unlocked it with my key and pushed it open so hard it banged against the drywall.
My parents and Kara were gathered in the living room. The atmosphere was completely different from the smug laughter on the phone an hour ago. Kara looked pale, furiously texting someone, while my father was pacing the floor. Denise sat on the sofa, clutching a throw pillow.
"How dare you barge in here like a maniac!" Denise yelled, trying to regain her dominant footing. "Where is Elliot?"
"He's asleep in my locked car," I said, stepping fully into the room and tossing the thick Disney folder onto the coffee table. It landed with a heavy, satisfying smack. "And I suggest you lower your voice, Mom, before I give the neighbors a show they'll never forget."
Ray stopped pacing and pointed a finger at me. "Now listen here, young lady. You are blowing this entirely out of proportion. We looked away for one second, and the boy wandered off. It was a mistake. You threatening your own mother with the police is disgraceful."
"A mistake?" I laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. I opened the folder and pulled out the printed logs. "A mistake is losing track of him in a gift shop and frantically searching. A mistake is calling the authorities immediately. You didn't do that. Security footage shows all three of you scanning out of the park at 2:45 p.m. Elliot was found crying near the bathrooms at 3:10 p.m. You deliberately walked out, got in your car, and drove away."
Kara crossed her arms, though her hands were shaking. "We thought he was with Dad! Dad thought he was with Mom! It was a miscommunication! You can't prove anything!"
"I don't have to," I snapped, turning my glare on my sister. "Because Elliot heard you. He heard Dad say, 'We're leaving. Your mom can deal with it.' He heard you."
My father’s face drained of color. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
"You were annoyed," I said, my voice dropping to a deadly, quiet register. "He had to pee, and it inconvenienced you. So you decided to teach him, or maybe teach me, a lesson. You thought you'd leave him there, let me panic, and then gaslight me into thinking it was my fault for raising a 'needy' child. But you underestimated me."
Denise stood up, tears of panic finally welling in her eyes. Not tears of remorse, but tears of fear for her reputation. "Please. Don't do this. Don't go to the police. If this gets out... your sister's husband... his custody battle with his ex..."
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Ah, there it was. Kara's husband was currently in a vicious custody battle for his kids from a previous marriage. If it came out that his current wife was an accessory to child abandonment, his case would be obliterated.
"I am not a drama queen," I whispered, picking up the folder. "I am a mother. And as of this exact second, none of you exist to me anymore."
