Chapter 4 - The Story Lorraine Built
By noon, Lorraine had created a version of events in which Brooke was failing.
She photographed dirty bottles Brooke had never used.
She placed an unwashed blanket beside the crib.
She left the back door open, then accused Brooke of forgetting to close it.
Each accusation came with the same calm voice.
“You really don’t remember?”
Brooke’s fear grew.
Not because she doubted herself.
Because she understood what Lorraine was doing.
She was manufacturing evidence.
Brooke went to the bedroom and searched for her prescription bottle.
It was gone.
“Looking for something?” Lorraine asked from the doorway.
“Where are my pills?”
“You took them.”
“No.”
“You told me you did.”
Brooke stared at her.
Lorraine tilted her head.
“You should lie down before you hurt yourself or the baby.”
Brooke stepped toward her.
“Get out of my house.”
Lorraine laughed softly.
“This house belongs to Travis.”
“It belongs to both of us.”
“For now.”
Brooke tried to pass.
Lorraine blocked the doorway.
“You think he’ll choose you after he sees how unstable you’ve become?”
“I know what you’re doing.”
“Then prove it.”
Brooke looked toward the nursery.
The hidden object was still beneath the blanket.
She moved quickly.
Too quickly.
Pain tore through her body.
Her knees buckled.
She caught the wall and gasped.
Lorraine watched without helping.
“Look at you,” she whispered. “You can barely stand.”
Brooke forced herself forward.
She reached the crib.
Her fingers touched the blanket.
Lorraine grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back.
Brooke stumbled to the carpet.
The impact sent white pain through her abdomen.
Jonah began screaming.
Lorraine lifted him and held him against her chest.
Then she looked down at Brooke.
“Crawl away from the crib.”
Brooke’s eyes filled with tears.
“No.”
“If you touch him while you are like this, I will call child services.”
“You did this.”
“And who will believe that?”
Brooke tried to stand.
Lorraine pointed toward the door.
“Crawl.”
Brooke stayed where she was.
Then Lorraine removed Brooke’s phone from her pocket.
On the screen was a half-written message to Travis.
Help me.
May you like
Lorraine deleted it.
👉 Lorraine thought she had erased Brooke’s only warning, but a second device in the house had already received part of the message.
