Chapter 5 - WHY RACHEL WANTED THE ADOPTION NOW
Sarah confronted Rachel through attorneys.
Rachel hired Lauren Pierce.
Lauren’s first position was simple:
The patio incident was bad judgment, not intentional abuse.
Rachel had sprayed dirt from Emily’s clothing after Emily refused to change.
Emily backed away and fell.
Rachel panicked afterward.
She told Emily to simplify the story because she feared Sarah would misinterpret it.
Weak.
But not impossible.
Then adoption.
Rachel said she wanted the hearing completed because she had raised Emily for four years.
She had:
attended school meetings,
paid medical bills,
handled childcare,
stayed home during illnesses.
True.
She loved Emily.
At least sometimes.
Sarah asked:
“Then why build a file against her?”
Rachel answered:
“Because you always believe her first.”
That sentence mattered.
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Rachel did not see documentation as evidence.
She saw it as ammunition in a future disagreement.
