Chapter 3

I didn't even get the chance to explain. Just like in my last life, Kevin took Frieda's word instantly.

"Minnie, is what my mom said true?"

"No wonder you went out of your way to tell me not to say anything to her. You did it on purpose, didn't you?"

"My mom treats you so well. Why can't you be satisfied? Why would you frame her like this, just to drive a wedge between us?"

None of this surprised me.

Last time, Kevin believed Frieda so completely that he genuinely thought her schizophrenia came from wearing herself out taking care of me. Of course he'd swallow whatever she said this time too, no questions asked.

I had seen all of it coming.

So I didn't argue.

I just took a few of my own examination reports out of my bag and held them out. I said nothing, only covered my face and started to cry.

Kevin and Frieda exchanged a glance, then took the reports and looked.

One look was all it took. Both of them froze.

"How can this be?"

I let out a breath and started to explain, wiping at my eyes as I spoke.

"This morning Mom didn't just give me a boxed meal. There was a bowl of chicken soup too."

"I did give you the meal, yes. But I thought I could have the soup myself. After I drank it, my stomach hurt so badly I could hardly stand it. I kept running to the bathroom, and in the end I started bleeding."

"I was afraid something was wrong with the baby, so I went straight to the hospital. The doctor told me I'd already miscarried."

"That's why I had a D&C today."

By then I was crying harder.

"And I called you the whole time. You were the one who never picked up!"

Kevin pulled out his phone and checked. It was exactly as I'd said, dozens of missed calls from me. Of course he hadn't answered. He'd practically been living in the bathroom. When would he have had the time?

Five:

Frieda's brow furrowed. At first she'd only assumed I was turning her own scheme back on her, but she never imagined I'd actually drink the chicken soup myself.

She studied my face for a moment, then shook her head.

"Impossible. There was even more laxative in the soup. If you'd really drunk it, there's no way you'd look this fine. You didn't drink it. You did this on purpose."

Still I didn't argue.

I only looked at the two of them and said, low and even,

"So what you're saying is, I deliberately planted the laxative in a kitchen I never go into, then somehow knew you'd mix it into the boxed meal, so I handed that meal to Kevin?"

"And then I deliberately miscarried, just to clear myself of suspicion?"

"Does that sound possible to either of you?"

"I waited so long for this child. Why would I ever do such a thing?"

Kevin and Frieda had nothing to say.

That was the truth of it.

Because I was an orphan, I had always longed for a child of my own blood. After I got pregnant, I was careful with everything, never missing a single checkup, and the baby was healthy.

There was no reason for me to get rid of that child out of nowhere just to frame Frieda.

Seeing that neither of them could speak, I turned back to Frieda.

"And another thing. It's hard to say who put the laxative in the kitchen. But who bought it should be easy enough to trace."

"We can look into what kind of laxative it was, and see whether it really does look just like your seasoning. So alike that you'd accidentally reach for the wrong one!"

Frieda didn't answer. Instead she flipped it back on me.

"So you're saying I did all of it?"

"And why would I do that?"

I shook my head.

"Mom, I trust the kind of person you are. But you've worn yourself out looking after me lately, and there really have been a lot of things that aren't like you."

"So I've been wondering. Is it possible that you're..."

I pointed to my head.

"Is it possible something's gone wrong up here?"