The Dark Side - Danielle Steel Page 0,93

sound surprised, and her loyalties were clear. They were with Jaime, and Zoe was no longer a true friend, if she had been purposely injuring her child for three and a half years. Zoe had lost Cathy’s support when she made her decision and turned her in to CPS. She was ready to stand by it. It was harder for Austin, he had more to lose and at times still felt torn, between love and disbelief, and wanting to grab Jaime and run, and save her from her mother. But he was still terrified they were wrong and doing Zoe a terrible injustice. He would never forgive himself if that was the case. But even less if she killed Jaime. That was unthinkable.

“He told her he hadn’t seen me yet, and I went along with it. So I guess I’m a liar too.”

“You have no choice,” she said gently, “you have to protect Jaime. If you don’t, something bad could happen.”

“Bad things have already happened. A lot of them,” he said grimly.

“I know it sounds crazy, but I think it will turn out okay in the end.”

“For who?”

“For Jaime, for starters. If Zoe is doing what we think, she has to be stopped. For everyone’s sake. If what we believe is true, her demons are running her life. She needs help.” He sighed, listening to her. He didn’t know where to turn anymore or what to believe.

“I wish I could just grab Jaime and run away,” he said sadly.

“And how would you explain that to Jaime?”

“How will I explain it if her mother goes to jail? This is more than just a custody battle in the making, Cathy. There will be felony charges, if they can prove any of it.”

“I know,” and she had started it, but she didn’t feel guilty anymore. She had done the right thing. She had no doubt.

Things calmed down for a few weeks after that. Dan Knoll’s interviews were over, and he was writing his report. He wanted to think about it carefully and make the right recommendation, and he didn’t know what that was yet. Possibly to wait until they had stronger evidence to bring criminal charges against Zoe. But he didn’t want Jaime at risk in the meantime, until the next injury. He had consulted a psychiatrist about it too, and done extensive reading about Munchausen by proxy. He felt like an authority on it now. They all did.

Austin was still having lunch with his mother once a week. She asked what was happening with the investigation and he said he didn’t know, which was true. Cathy didn’t know anything either. He checked in with her every few days.

Zoe had calmed down after Dan Knoll’s visit. She was still incensed about it, but since they’d heard nothing further, she assumed everything was in order and the file would be in a holding pattern now for the next year. And she was satisfied with what Austin had reported he’d said to Dan Knoll. She was warmer again after that, but Austin didn’t trust her anymore, ever, for a single second, especially with their daughter. And Zoe was such a convincing liar, who knew what was true?

* * *

—

Zoe came home early from work one Friday afternoon after Jaime got out of school at two. She let Fiona leave early, and took Jaime with her to buy some groceries. She was in a good mood, and Jaime loved spending time with her. It felt like a special treat when her mom came home early from work, and they could have mother-daughter time alone. Zoe promised her they would buy colored sprinkles for a surprise.

When they came home from the grocery store, Zoe smiled at her.

“I have the surprise for you! Let’s have a party!” Zoe said and clapped her hands.

“With balloons and cake?” Jaime’s eyes lit up instantly.

“How about cake, no balloons?”

“Okay!” As Jaime watched, her mother pulled out a see-through box from a supermarket bag with a pink frosted cake in it. She’d picked it up on the way home and Fiona hadn’t seen it before she left. She took off the label and tossed it into the garbage, crushed the plastic lid and shoved it way down to the bottom of the trash, and took out pink paper plates left over from Jaime’s last birthday. She even had pink candles and strawberry ice cream. “It’s a pink party!” Jaime said, clapping her hands, and out of the corner of her