“Maybe.”
Margaret’s eyes narrowed.
“Was moving Claire punishment?”
Edith looked away.
Claire whispered, “Oh my God.”
Edith shook her head.
“No. Not punishment.”
“What then?”
“I believed another placement would be more compliant with the case plan.”
Margaret stared at her.
“A more compliant foster mother.”
Edith said nothing.
Claire’s face had gone pale.
Margaret leaned back.
There it was.
Not a grand conspiracy.
Not a secret plan to steal a child.
Something smaller.
More ordinary.
A professional with power deciding that a woman who asked too many questions was inconvenient.
And a child paid the price.
Claire looked at Edith.
“Then why did you tell me she didn’t want me?”
Edith’s eyes filled.
“You kept asking.”
“So you lied?”
“I thought a clean break would help.”
Claire stood.
“A clean break?”
“Children sometimes struggle when they keep hoping—”
“You made me think I was unwanted.”
Edith’s voice trembled.
“I know.”
“No. You don’t.”
Claire pushed the papers toward her.
“I spent years believing something was wrong with me because every time I started loving someone, they sent me away.”
Edith looked down.
“When you came back into my life later—”
“You let me keep believing it.”
“I was ashamed.”
