Page 97 of After Anna

“But your wife believed Anna, didn’t she?”

Noah hesitated. “I don’t know.”

“Well, you discussed what had happened in the bathroom with your wife, when you were alone, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“And didn’t you deny to your wife what Anna said happened?”

“Yes.”

“And after your denial, your wife didn’t embrace you and say ‘forget about the whole thing,’ did she, or words to that effect?”

“No.”

“She didn’t accuse Anna of lying, did she?”

“No.”

“She didn’t ask Anna to leave the house, did she?”

“No.”

“Isn’t it true that the one she asked to leave the house was you?”

“Yes.”

Linda lifted an eyebrow. “Let’s take a new look at that Petition, Dr. Alderman.”

Chapter Forty-six

Maggie, Before

The sky was still cloudy, but the air was fresh and cool, and Maggie waited on her front step, since Anna was due to be dropped off by Samantha at six o’clock. She was baking an eggplant parm for dinner, and Caleb was upstairs doing his homework. Maggie had taken him to the speech pathologist, but he hadn’t done well on his target words,bandage, accident, emergency. The stress in the house was affecting him, but she hoped they could put it behind them.

A yellow-and-black MINI Cooper pulled up at the curb, with Anna in the passenger seat. Maggie rose to meet them, checking out Samantha, who had short hair dyed bright red, big blue eyes, and an easy grin, looking cute and funky in a vintage flowy dress.

“Hi, honey!” Maggie gave Anna a quick hug when she got out of the car, hoisting her backpack and purse to her shoulder.

“Hi, Mom. Why are you out here? I texted you.”

“I know. I thought I’d come meet Samantha.”

“Oh, okay. Mom, this is Samantha Silas.” Anna gestured at the car, and Maggie peered inside.

“Great to meet you, Samantha. Would you like to have dinner with us?”

“No, thanks. I have, uh, somewhere to go.”

“Then it’s a rain check?”

“That would be great.”

“Bye, Samantha!” Anna called out, waving.

“See you,” Samantha called back, then pulled away.

Maggie fell into step next to Anna up the front walk. “She seems nice, and that was good of her to give you a ride home.”

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