I Left Them in Grief Chapter 04

I Left Them in Grief Chapter 04

One morning, I was in the garden like any other day, trimming the flower beds.

Maeve had just handed me the pruning shears when Callum and Elodie came barreling in from opposite directions.

They slammed right into her before either of us could react. The shears slipped from her grip—and the blade caught Elodie on the arm.

“Ow!”

Elodie screamed and burst into tears.

I took a step toward her—and got shoved hard to the side.

Selah swept in and pulled Elodie against her chest. “Baby, what happened? I’m right here.”

Elodie held up her arm. A thin line of blood welled along the cut.

Selah’s eyes went red. She blew softly on the wound, then whipped around to stare at me like I’d done it on purpose.

“That’s your own daughter, Maren. If you have a problem with me, come at me directly—don’t take it out on a child.”

Her voice cracked. “It’s just a scratch this time, but what if it had been her face?”

I stood there and let her talk. I didn’t bother defending myself.

Maeve opened her mouth, but Brennon arrived at that exact moment and cut her off before she could say a word.

“Nobody asked you,” he snapped. “Stay out of it.”

He checked Elodie’s arm himself, confirmed it was minor, then turned to look at me. The accusation in his eyes was already decided.

“What happened here?”

Selah pressed herself into his side and started crying. “Don’t blame Maren—Elodie bumped into the shears by accident. I just think sharp things like that should be kept away from the kids. I can’t even imagine if something worse had happened…”

She didn’t have to spell it out. The implication was clear: I couldn’t even be trusted to keep my own child safe.

I almost laughed, not even bothered to explain. Instead I looked at Brennon and waited.

His expression had gone dark.

“That’s the child you carried for nine months,” he said.

“You don’t have to be close to them, but you should at least keep them safe. Selah’s been raising them as a favor to you. How could you let this happen?”

Callum nodded from the side. “Mom, I get that it feels strange—we don’t live with you, things are different. But my sister didn’t do anything wrong. Please don’t take whatever you’re feeling out on her.”

I looked at my son. The one I’d nearly bled out delivering.

A slow, humorless smile pulled at my mouth.

“You’re right,” I said. “If you honestly believe a mother would hurt her own child who isn’t even ten years old yet, then I’m clearly not cut out for this.”

“Selah loves you both so much. Go ahead and make it official—transfer legal guardianship to her. I don’t want any connection to this anymore.”

The place went dead quiet.

Brennon’s face darkened to something frightening. “What the hell does that mean? You want our kids to call someone else their mother? Is that a threat? Are you actually trying to blow this family up?”

“Yes.”

I held his gaze. “That’s exactly what I mean. Since everyone here’s already decided I’m not a real mother, I’ll step aside. You four can have your happy little life.”

“Mom—” Callum looked genuinely thrown.

Brennon pointed at me, voice rising. “You hurt your daughter, I say one thing about it, and now you’re pulling this? Selah’s exhausted from taking care of your kids and you can’t show one ounce of gratitude—you’re unbelievable.”

I didn’t argue. I just turned and walked away.

Brennon’s voice followed behind.

“I was going to bring you back home—forget it. Stay out here and think about what you’ve done.”

I let the corner of my mouth lift. Couldn’t have planned it better myself.

Back in my room, I pulled Maeve aside.

“Fourth of July weekend,” I said.

“That’s when we move. Go double-check the padding is secure, and the animal remains we’re using as a substitute—scatter them at sea yourself. Don’t let Brennon anywhere near that part.”

Maeve nodded. “I’ll take care of everything.”