Chapter 4 - The Signature.
I had signed thousands of contracts in twelve years of running Hale Restoration, and I knew every habit in my own handwriting.
The fake signature had the right shape but the wrong pressure.
The final stroke on my last name curved upward instead of cutting straight across.
Someone had practiced it.
"Who signed this?"
Rebecca did not answer.
I held the enrollment form closer to her.
"Who signed my name?"
She looked toward the hallway where guests were whispering.
"Lower your voice."
"You forged my signature on paperwork involving my child."
"I prepared forms because you avoid difficult decisions."
"Prepared is not signed."
Hannah took the page and turned it toward the window.
"There's a witness signature."
The name beneath mine was Gavin Vaughn.
Rebecca's older brother.
Gavin was downstairs wearing a charcoal suit and serving as one of our ushers.
He had spent the previous night drinking bourbon with me and telling me how happy he was to welcome me into the family.
My hands started shaking with anger.
Caleb immediately stepped into the hallway.
"I'll get him."
Rebecca moved toward the door.
"No one is interrogating my family."
"Your brother witnessed a forged signature."
"You don't know that."
"Then he can explain it."
Rebecca pressed her lips together.
I turned the form over and found another page.
This one contained a section labeled parental contact restrictions.
The box beside supervised phone calls only had been checked.
Another box limited visits during the first ninety days.
My chest tightened so violently that I had to sit down.
Ninety days.
Rebecca had not been planning a temporary weekend program.
She had been planning a separation.
Lily climbed onto the chair beside me and slipped her hand into mine.
"Daddy, are you sick?"
"No, sweetheart."
I forced my voice to stay steady.
"I'm right here."
Marisol crouched beside Lily.
"I packed the photo of your mommy because I thought you might need it."
Lily nodded as if that were normal, and the quiet acceptance nearly broke me.
The door opened.
Caleb returned with Gavin.
Rebecca's brother entered smiling nervously until he saw the paperwork on my lap.
Then he stopped.
"What's going on?"
I stood and held up the form.
"Did you witness my signature?"
Gavin looked at Rebecca.
That single glance answered me before he spoke.
"Ethan, this is complicated."
"No."
I stepped closer.
"A yes or no question is not complicated."
Gavin rubbed the back of his neck.
"Rebecca told me you had already agreed."
"Did you watch me sign this?"
"No."
"Then why is your name in the witness box?"
He exhaled slowly.
"She said the original form was lost and the school needed a replacement before today."
Rebecca snapped at him.
"Stop talking."
Gavin's face changed.
"You told me Ethan knew."
"He did know."
"I did not."
For the first time, uncertainty appeared on Gavin's face.
He looked at Lily, then at the bag, and finally at his sister.
"Rebecca, what exactly were you doing?"
She opened her mouth.
Before she could answer, my phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar, but the caller ID showed Havenridge Behavioral Residence.
Everyone in the room stared at the screen.
I answered on speaker.
A cheerful woman introduced herself as the admissions coordinator.
May you like
Then she said the sentence that ended any remaining doubt.
"Mr. Hale, we're calling to confirm Lily's permanent intake this afternoon and the guardianship authorization your wife submitted yesterday."
