Chapter 5: What Maya Had Been Told
Claire opened her door and wrapped Maya in both arms.
“You never have to ask whether you belong here,” she said.
Maya looked at me over Claire’s shoulder.
“Are you staying too?”
“I’m not leaving you.”
Helen had approved Claire’s house as a temporary placement while she reviewed the evidence.
Lauren remained in our home with Noah and her younger daughter, Sophie.
Claire carried Maya’s bag upstairs, then returned holding the bus ticket.
“She bought this six weeks ago,” Claire said.
“The date is printed here.”
“Lauren claimed Maya asked to leave.”
“Maya didn’t even know my new address six weeks ago.”
Maya stood in the doorway.
“Lauren knew it.”
Claire put down the ticket.
“What else did she tell you, sweetheart?”
Maya’s eyes moved to me.
“That Dad married her because he needed a new family.”
“That isn’t true,” I said.
“She said Mom’s room became her room, so my room would become Sophie’s.”
I dropped to my knees in front of her.
“No one can replace your mother, and no one can replace you.”
“She showed me a paper with your signature.”
“What did it say?”
“That you agreed I was difficult.” Maya’s voice cracked.
“She said if I loved you, I would leave before you had to choose.”
My hands fell away from hers.
Maya stepped back.
“If you had believed her pictures, would you have sent me away?”
The question knocked the air from my chest.
Claire put one hand on my shoulder, but she spoke to Maya.
“Your father should have noticed sooner.
He cannot change that by pretending.”
“I should have noticed,” I said.
“I let Lauren explain every quiet dinner and every time you went upstairs early.”
Maya’s tears spilled again.
“I tried to tell you.”
“I know.”
“You said we all needed time to adjust.”
“I was wrong.”
She struck my chest once with her small fist.
“You didn’t listen.”
“No, I didn’t.”
She struck it again, then collapsed against me.
I held her while she sobbed, and I stopped trying to defend myself.
“I am sorry,” I whispered.
“You deserved a father who listened the first time.”
Claire knelt beside us.
“And now she needs one who listens every time after this.”
“I will.”
Maya’s arms slowly tightened around my neck.
The recorder contained forty-three minutes of conversation.
Claire and I listened while Maya slept.
Mr.
Bell’s voice came first.
“Friday is the filing deadline.
If Maya is established outside the home before then, Lauren’s petition looks stronger.”
“What petition?” Claire asked.
The answer came moments later.
Lauren said, “Once Daniel is accused of neglect, I request temporary control of the house for the other children.
By the time he clears his name, Maya will believe he chose us.”
Claire paused the recording.
“She didn’t only want Maya gone.
She wanted you gone too.”
My phone rang.
It was Lauren.
“You took something that belongs to me,” she said.
“Noah gave me the recorder.”
“He is a confused child.”
“He recorded you and Bell coaching Maya.”
There was silence, followed by a softer voice.
“Come home alone, Daniel.
Sign an agreement giving me the house for one year, and I’ll withdraw the report.”
“You are offering to trade my daughter’s safety for a house.”
“I’m offering you a way to keep seeing her.”
“I already sent the recording to Helen.”
Lauren laughed.
“Then you sent her a copy.
The original recording means nothing without the original device.”
The call ended.
Claire looked at my empty hand.
“What does she know that we don’t?” she asked.
A message appeared from Helen before I could answer.
DO NOT RETURN HOME.
THE RECORDER HAS BEEN REPORTED STOLEN, AND MR.
BELL HAS OBTAINED AN EMERGENCY ORDER REQUIRING ITS SURRENDER.
May you like
Then another message appeared from Noah’s number.
Mom found the backup.
