Chapter 4 - NATALIE’S DOCTOR DID NOT BAN STAIRS
After the fall, rumors started before we left the hospital.
By breakfast, one aunt texted:
I heard Natalie was on stairs even though her doctor told her not to use them.
False.
Her doctor had not banned stairs.
At seven months pregnant, she had been advised to avoid unnecessary heavy lifting and to slow down because she was having pelvic pressure and occasional Braxton Hicks contractions.
Normal.
No prescribed bed rest.
No prohibition against a staircase.
Another message:
Why was she arguing with Ryan upstairs?
She was not.
She had gone upstairs to use the quieter bathroom because the downstairs powder room had a line.
Ryan followed.
Another:
I heard she turned around suddenly and lost balance.
No.
The camera would later show otherwise.
Where did these versions come from?
No one admitted it.
Then my father called.
I finally answered.
“Daniel.”
“What?”
“I need you to calm down.”
I nearly hung up.
He continued.
“Ryan says the contact was accidental.”
“Natalie says he pushed her.”
“He put a hand out.”
“From behind?”
“She was moving.”
“Dad.”
“Everybody was drinking.”
“Natalie wasn’t.”
Silence.
Then:
“You punched your brother.”
“Yes.”
“He may need dental work.”
“Then he gets dental work.”
“You sound insane.”
“And you said she tripped before you even asked what happened.”
My father stopped.
There.
I had been waiting for an explanation.
“Why?”
He sighed.
“Because Ryan has been worried about her for months.”
That sentence did not make sense.
“Worried about her?”
“Her behavior.”
“What behavior?”
“Controlling you.”
I looked at Natalie across the hospital room.
She heard through the phone.
My father continued.
“The family has seen it.”
“The family has seen what Ryan records.”
Another silence.
Then:
“We need to talk when everyone is calm.”
“No.”
“Daniel.”
“No more family meeting about my wife without my wife.”
He hung up.
Natalie stared at me.
May you like
“What did he mean, the family has seen it?”
I did not know yet.
