“Mrs. Bennett,” Diane said. “Are you okay?”
Audrey nodded. “I’m okay.”
Margaret stared at the officers. “What is this?”
Diane stepped forward. “Margaret Bennett, you’re under arrest for fraud, forgery, and attempted theft. You have the right to remain silent.”
Margaret screamed. She screamed and screamed. She called Audrey names. She called Poppy names. She called Grant names. The officers handcuffed her. They led her out.
Celeste stood in the corner. She was crying. She was holding her stomach. She looked at Audrey.
“I didn’t know,” she said. “I didn’t know any of this.”
Audrey looked at her. “I know.”
“What am I supposed to do now?”
“You’re supposed to go home,” Audrey said. “You’re supposed to raise your son. You’re supposed to tell him the truth about his father. And you’re supposed to never speak to Margaret Bennett again.”
Celeste nodded. She walked to the door. She stopped. She turned back.
“He loved you,” she said. “He told me that. At the end. He said he was sorry. He said he should have been braver.”
Audrey didn’t answer. She just watched Celeste walk out the door.
Poppy tugged on her hand. “Mommy?”
Audrey looked down. “Yes, baby?”
“Is Daddy coming home?”
Audrey knelt down. She took Poppy’s face in her hands. “No, baby. Daddy’s not coming home.”
“Is it because of me?”
“No. Never because of you.”
Poppy’s lip trembled. “Then why?”
Audrey took a breath. “Because sometimes grown-ups make bad choices. Sometimes they hurt people they love. Sometimes they forget what matters.”
Poppy nodded slowly. “But you didn’t forget.”
“No,” Audrey said. “I didn’t forget.”
“You remembered me.”
“I always remembered you. I always will.”
Poppy hugged her. Audrey held her tight. The house was quiet. The office door was open. The truth was out.
The next few months were hard.
Margaret’s trial was long. The evidence was overwhelming. The forged documents. The secret bank accounts. The plans she had made to have Poppy declared illegitimate. The plans she had made to seize control of the trust.
She was convicted on all counts. She was sentenced to twelve years.
Celeste gave birth to a boy. She named him Thomas. She moved to another state. She never contacted the Bennetts again.
