Chapter 3: The Recording Alexander Could Never Unsee
Weeks passed.
The mansion slowly changed.
Music returned.
Crayons appeared on the kitchen table.
Tiny shoes were left carelessly in hallways.
Noah laughed often enough that even the gardeners smiled when they heard him through open windows.
Only Alexander remained distant.
Watching.
Always watching.
One evening a violent thunderstorm rolled across Westchester.
Lightning flashed.
The mansion briefly lost power.
Emergency generators activated seconds later.
Alexander checked the camera system remotely.
Most feeds had resumed.
One hadn't.
The nursery.
He hurried home.
By the time he arrived, Noah had already fallen asleep.
Claire sat beside the bed reading quietly.
She believed she was completely alone.
The backup battery camera, however, had continued recording.
Alexander watched later that night.
Claire gently brushed Noah's curls away from his forehead.
"I know I'm not your mommy."
She whispered so softly the microphone almost missed it.
"And I'll never try to be."
"But as long as I'm here..."
"...you'll never have to feel alone."
She kissed the top of his head.
Not possessively.
Not dramatically.
Like someone making a promise.
Then she quietly cried.
Not loud sobs.
Just silent tears she quickly wiped away before leaving the room.
Alexander replayed the clip four times.
Nobody knew that camera had battery backup.
Nobody.
May you like
She hadn't performed for anyone.
She had simply loved a lonely child.
