Page 13 of After Anna

“It’s not true.”

“Why would he lie?” Anna’s eyes narrowed.

“I don’t know. To win some power struggle?” Maggie knew Florian. He always had to win. It was about ego and vanity. “Did he even mention the postpartum psychosis?”

“No, this is the first I heard of it.”

“Honestly, I was found unfit, but it wasn’t because I hit you. Ineverhit or abused you. I was ill, but I swear Ineverhurt you. I needed help, but I never physically hurt you or even neglected you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really, I have court papers and medical files, too.” Maggie felt panicky to defend herself. She couldn’t bear to have Anna thinkshe’d been abused, not for another minute. “The custody papers show I was treated for postpartum psychosis. There were no allegations of any physical abuse, not even a single one! I didn’t—”

“Could I see those papers?”

“Of course! I could have them emailed to you, if you want. Anna, I never hurt you. I loved you.”

“Do you swear?” Anna bit her lip, uncertain.

“Anna, yes, I swear. I loved you from the day you were born and I love you still.” Maggie touched her hand. “I’m very, very sorry that I wasn’t with you, that you grew up without me, but I swear to you, I tried. I can show you how hard I fought for you in court. You sent me that letter, remember? You said you didn’t want me in your life.”

“Yes, but that was because you hit me. Dad told me you hit me.”

“But I didn’t. Ever. I only wanted to be in your life, to be your mother. Your mom. I promise you that, Anna.”

Suddenly the waiter materialized with a tray bearing the salads. “Chow time!” he said brightly.

Chapter Nine

Noah, After

TRIAL, DAY 6

Noah watched as Thomas called their witness to the stand, hoping that he could help the defense, which badly needed it. Thomas had told Noah to keep the faith, but it was almost impossible. Still he held his head high as the witness was sworn in and sat down, adjusting the black microphone.

“Please, state your name and address for the record,” Thomas said, from in front of the witness box.

“My name is Richard Weissberg and I live at 474 Marlin Road, in Haverford, Pennsylvania.”

“Mr. Weissberg, do you know Dr. Alderman?”

“No.”

Noah had never met Weissberg, who was of average height and build, with horn-rimmed frames that looked bookish on his round, friendly face, framed by dark brown hair cut in layers. He had on a dark wool suit and a silk tie, and Noah felt encouraged that Weissberg made a nice, reliable appearance on the stand.

“Mr. Weissberg, did there come a time when you became aware that Dr. Alderman lived around the block from you at 460 Howell Road?”

“Yes.”

“Please tell us where your apartment is located, using this map,Defendant’s Exhibit 52.” Thomas gestured to an enlarged diagram of two blocks of Noah’s neighborhood, including his carriage house and in front of it, the main house, where Noah’s landlord lived.

“I’m at the bottom of my street, there.” Weissberg pointed to south Marlin Road. “I live on the first floor of a duplex. Most of the other houses are single homes.”

“What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a teaching assistant in linguistics at Temple University.”

“Now, let’s turn to the events of the night in question, Wednesday, May 10. What time did you get home from work that night?”