adulterer or financially dishonest.”
“I know.”
“But threatening the mother, withholding a newborn during coercion, participating in a scheme to declare you incompetent, and exposing a child to a volatile confrontation are relevant.”
“What about Eleanor?”
“Assault is easier.”
I touched my cheek.
The bruise had darkened.
“She’ll deny it.”
“The nurse saw the aftermath.”
“The recording captured the slap.”
“Yes.”
“And Eleanor helpfully said you were hysterical afterward.”
Sarah smiled.
“She is not as clever as she believes.”
That afternoon, hospital security informed us Julian had returned.
He was downstairs.
He demanded to see me.
He claimed he had parental rights.
The hospital refused.
Then Eleanor arrived with him.
They both refused to leave.
Police were called.
I heard none of it directly.
Sarah made sure of that.
I was doing a neurological assessment when she returned.
“Good news.”
“What?”
“Your husband is learning that yelling at hospital security is not a persuasive legal strategy.”
“What happened?”
“He threatened to sue the hospital.”
“Of course.”
