Page 105 of After Anna

“I—” Noah started to say, then realized he had no way to finish the sentence.

“Your Honor, I have no further questions,” Linda said flatly, then strode back toward counsel table.

Noah felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He had expected to feel relief, but he knew how badly it had gone.

“Thank you.” Judge Gardner looked at Thomas. “Mr. Owusu, do you have redirect examination for the witness?”

“No, Your Honor. Thank you.” Thomas half-rose, shaking his head, and Linda looked over at Thomas, pausing just before she sat down, but her expression remained professional.

Noah assumed that Thomas was declining redirect because if he accepted, then it would give Linda the opportunity for recross. Thomas was putting Noah out of his misery, like shooting a wounded animal.

None of them knew Noah was dead inside.

Chapter Fifty

Maggie, Before

Maggie closed Anna’s bedroom door, simmering. She went down to the basement to find Noah at his computer with his headphones on, reading an array of test results. He’d reassembled his desk, bookshelves, and filing cabinet in the same arrangement as his former office upstairs. Maggie felt a twinge, appreciating his initial sacrifice, but things had gone so wrong since then. She touched his shoulder to get his attention, and he slid off his headphones.

“What’s up?” Noah asked, over his black reading glasses.

“Anna is getting a professional driving teacher. She doesn’t want you to take her anymore.”

“Really?” Noah blinked. “Did she say why?”

“That she felt nervous around you.”

“I thought it went well.”

“It obviously didn’t.”

“Maggie, what do you want me to do?” Noah slid off his reading glasses and tossed them on the desk.

“I want you to help me get to the bottom of this.”

“She changed her mind. Teenagers do that.”

“Noah, why are you acting this way?” Maggie felt like they didn’t even know each other anymore.

“I’m acting how I always act.”

“No, you’re not. You’re kinder than this. You’re a great father.”

“I took off tonight for her. I’ll be up for three more hours to make it up.” Noah gestured at the glowing screen. “I have to get ready for the conference. Remember? In Miami.”

“But still, if you’re going to take the time to take her, it doesn’t take longer to be nice.” Maggie had forgotten there was a medical conference of the NAAAI, or the National Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. The office always sent Noah, who loved to geek out at the latest in allergy advances.

“You’re killing me, babe. What do you want me to do?”

“How aboutcare?” Maggie shot back, giving way to anger. “Noah, what’s going on? Tell me how you feel. The kids can’t hear. We can yell as much as we want.”

“Okay.” Noah pursed his lips. “This house has been in an uproar since she got here, and all you do is make sure that she’s happy. Has she even called to find Jamie yet?”

“She hasn’t had a chance.”

“Right.” Noah rolled his eyes. “She follows her own rules. You fill her every need. You’re jumping through hoops for her.”

“Of course I am. I’m trying to show her I’m happy she’s here. What about you?”