Chapter 11: Two Little Girls and One Terrible Mother
Patricia Whitmore was standing in the academy lobby when I arrived.
She wore a cream-colored coat, black heels, and the same diamond bracelet I'd noticed at the recital.
Beside her stood Olivia.
The little girl was holding a pink ballet bag.
Her eyes were red.
When she saw me, she immediately looked down.
Patricia noticed me.
"Mr. Malone.""
I stopped several feet away.
"Patricia.""
Her gaze moved toward Rebecca, who had arrived behind me.
Then Daniel.
Her smile disappeared.
"I wasn't expecting a legal delegation.""
Daniel adjusted his glasses.
"We're here to discuss the trust and the academy's handling of the scholarship.""
Patricia laughed.
"How dramatic.""
I looked at Olivia.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
She looked up briefly.
"Hi.""
Patricia immediately placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Olivia, go sit over there.""
Olivia hesitated.
"But Mommy—"
"Now.""
The little girl walked toward the waiting area.
I watched her sit beside a row of tiny ballet shoes displayed in a glass case.
Then I turned back.
"What are you doing here?""
Patricia crossed her arms.
"I'm protecting my daughter's interests.""
"By hurting mine?""
"Your daughter has been given opportunities she hasn't earned.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Mrs. Whitmore, we need to discuss your attempts to interfere with the trust.""
Patricia's expression hardened.
"I have no idea what you're talking about.""
Rebecca opened her folder.
"Then perhaps you can explain why you submitted a request to remove Lily Malone as a beneficiary.""
"That was a legitimate concern.""
"On what basis?""
"Emily Carter made decisions while she was emotionally unstable.""
Rebecca's voice sharpened.
"My sister was perfectly capable of making her own decisions.""
Patricia gave a dismissive wave.
"Emily was obsessed with helping people who weren't her responsibility.""
I felt my hands tighten.
"She helped your daughter.""
Patricia looked at me.
"She had no right to involve herself in our family.""
Daniel interrupted.
"Mrs. Whitmore, the trust was legally established. Neither you nor the academy has the authority to change its beneficiaries.""
Patricia laughed again.
"Then take me to court.""
Daniel nodded.
"If necessary.""
For the first time, Patricia seemed uncertain.
Then she turned toward me.
"You think wearing a ridiculous costume and playing the hero makes you a good father?""
I stared at her.
"No. Raising my daughter does.""
"Your daughter needs discipline.""
"She needs adults who don't bully her.""
Patricia stepped closer.
"She froze onstage. Everyone saw it.""
"Yes. And then she got back up.""
"With your help.""
"That's what fathers do.""
Her face tightened.
"You have no idea what you're talking about.""
I looked toward Olivia.
The little girl was watching us.
Her hands were wrapped around the straps of her ballet bag.
"Maybe you should ask your daughter what she thinks.""
Patricia turned sharply.
"Olivia!""
The child jumped.
"Come here.""
Olivia approached slowly.
Patricia crouched.
"Tell Mr. Malone that you don't want Lily in your class.""
Olivia looked at her mother.
Then at me.
Her lips trembled.
"I don't want Lily to leave.""
Patricia's expression hardened.
"What did you say?""
"I like Lily.""
"Olivia, we've talked about this.""
The little girl began crying.
"I want to dance with her.""
Patricia grabbed the ballet bag.
"You need to stop embarrassing me.""
I stepped forward.
"Let go of the bag.""
Patricia looked up.
"Excuse me?""
"You're frightening her.""
"She's my daughter.""
"And she's five.""
For a second, I thought Patricia might slap the bag out of Olivia's hands.
Instead, she stood and pulled her daughter behind her.
"You're not going to tell me how to raise my child.""
I nodded.
"You're right. I'm not.""
Then I looked at Olivia.
"But nobody should make you feel like loving your friend is something wrong.""
Olivia wiped her cheeks.
Patricia turned toward Eleanor's office.
"Enough. I want this meeting over.""
Eleanor appeared in the doorway.
"Patricia, we need to talk.""
"Not here.""
"Actually, I think here is exactly where we need to talk.""
Patricia froze.
Eleanor held a folder.
"We've reviewed the footage and the documents submitted under Mara Ellison's name.""
Patricia looked at her.
"And?""
"The signature appears to have been copied.""
Patricia laughed nervously.
"That's absurd.""
"We've also preserved the original email containing the attachment.""
"Then you have nothing to worry about.""
Eleanor continued.
"We've referred the matter to the school's legal counsel.""
Patricia's face changed.
"You can't do that.""
"We already have.""
Patricia looked toward me.
"This is because of you.""
I shook my head.
"No. This is because of what you did.""
She pointed at Rebecca.
"Emily caused all of this.""
Rebecca stepped forward.
"Don't you dare blame my sister.""
Patricia's voice rose.
"She interfered with my family. She made promises she had no right to make.""
Rebecca stared at her.
"Emily saved Olivia's life.""
The lobby went silent.
Patricia's face drained of color.
Olivia looked up.
"Mommy?""
Rebecca continued.
"She caught a medication error when Olivia was a baby. She documented it. She protected your daughter.""
Patricia's jaw tightened.
"That is none of your business.""
"It became my business when you started attacking Lily to hide what happened.""
Patricia looked toward Daniel.
"Is that what this is about? Some old hospital incident?""
Daniel answered calmly.
"The trust and the hospital records are separate matters. Both will be reviewed independently.""
Patricia turned toward Eleanor.
"I want the board chair.""
Eleanor nodded.
"He's already on his way.""
Patricia looked startled.
Then the front doors opened.
Richard entered.
He looked tired.
His tie was loose, and his face was pale.
"Patricia.""
She turned.
"Richard, finally.""
He walked past her.
He stopped beside Olivia and knelt.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
Olivia began crying harder.
"Daddy.""
Richard hugged her.
Then he looked at Patricia.
"I saw the footage.""
Her expression changed.
"What footage?""
"The hallway recording.""
Patricia laughed.
"That recording is out of context.""
"I also saw the emails.""
She said nothing.
"And I saw the documents you submitted using Mara's name.""
Patricia's mouth opened.
Then closed.
Richard stood.
"I want to know why.""
She lowered her voice.
"Because I was trying to protect our family.""
Richard looked toward Olivia.
"From what?""
Patricia glanced at the little girl.
Then back at him.
"From people who wanted to take what belonged to us.""
Richard's face hardened.
"Emily didn't take anything from us.""
"She gave money to that little girl instead of her own family.""
"She gave money to both girls.""
"Olivia deserved more!""
The words echoed through the lobby.
Olivia started crying again.
Richard stared at his wife.
"More than what?""
Patricia looked at him.
"More attention. More opportunities. More everything.""
Richard shook his head.
"She's five years old.""
"So is Lily!""
I stepped forward.
"Exactly.""
Patricia turned toward me.
And for the first time, she looked genuinely frightened.
Richard took a breath.
"Patricia, I need you to come home.""
She shook her head.
"You're taking their side?""
"I'm taking our daughter's side.""
Patricia looked at Olivia.
The little girl was holding her father's hand.
Then Richard said something nobody expected.
"Until this investigation is complete, you're no longer authorized to represent our family in any matter involving the trust.""
Patricia stared at him.
"You can't do that.""
"I can.""
She looked around the lobby.
Several parents had gathered near the entrance.
Some were whispering.
Others were watching silently.
Patricia straightened her coat.
"This isn't over.""
Then she walked out.
Richard remained beside Olivia.
I approached them.
"Is she going to be okay?""
Richard looked at his daughter.
"I hope so.""
Olivia wiped her face.
Then she looked up at me.
"Can I see Lily?""
I smiled gently.
"She'd like that.""
Olivia hesitated.
"Will she be mad at me?""
I crouched.
"Why would she be?""
"Because Mommy said I wasn't supposed to be her friend.""
I felt my throat tighten.
I looked at Richard.
He was struggling to hold back tears.
Then I answered.
"Sweetheart, being someone's friend doesn't make you a bad person.""
Olivia nodded.
A small smile appeared.
But just as Richard reached for her hand, his phone rang.
He answered.
"Hello?""
His expression changed.
"What do you mean the hospital has received a request?""
He listened.
Then looked at Daniel.
"Who submitted it?""
A pause.
Richard's face turned white.
He ended the call.
Then he looked at me.
"Someone has requested that the original medical records from the night Lily was born be destroyed.""
Daniel stood immediately.
"Who?""
May you like
Richard swallowed.
"Patricia.""
