Chapter 4: The Man My Mother Never Told Me About
For three seconds, I couldn't hear anything.
Not the police radio behind me. Not my mother's frightened breathing. Not even Maya asking what Vanessa meant.
I could only hear those eight words.
Who your real father is.
I stepped onto the porch.
“Put the box down, Vanessa.””
She tightened her grip on it.
“Not until everyone understands why we're here.””
Daniel stood beside her, looking older than I remembered. His eyes moved from me to Maya, then toward the police officer standing near the kitchen window.
“You brought the police?”” he muttered.
“I didn't bring them,” I replied.
“Someone broke into my mother's house.””
Daniel glanced at Vanessa.
She immediately looked away.
“Interesting,” I said.
“You two arrive together carrying my daughter's stolen belongings, and somehow you're surprised to see law enforcement.””
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“We're trying to prevent something terrible.””
“Then start by giving Maya her mother's property.””
Maya stepped forward.
“Is what you said true?””
Vanessa looked at her.
For once, her voice became gentle.
“Your mother kept secrets, sweetheart. Big ones.””
“Stop calling me sweetheart.””
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“Emily wasn't the woman your father believes she was.””
I moved between them.
“You have one more chance to stop talking.””
Daniel finally spoke.
“Marcus, let her explain.””
I turned toward him.
“You disappeared from Maya's life for five years. You ignored her birthday cards. You wouldn't answer my calls.
And now you're standing outside my mother's house with a stolen box. You don't get to tell me what needs explaining.””
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“I made a promise to Emily.””
“And broke it.””
“Yes.””
The admission surprised me.
Vanessa immediately turned toward him.
“Daniel, don't.””
But he continued.
“I promised your wife I'd protect Maya. I also promised I'd never tell you what she discovered.””
“What did she discover?””
Daniel looked directly at Maya.
“Your mother found out that someone had been using her name.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“Financial accounts. Insurance documents. Medical authorizations. Someone had access to her personal information and was signing things without her permission.””
Vanessa interrupted.
“This is exactly why we shouldn't be discussing it here.””
I ignored her.
“Who?””
Daniel swallowed.
“I don't know.””
“That's a lie.””
“Marcus, I was trying to help Emily.””
“Then why did she write that you might have betrayed her?””
His face crumpled.
He looked at Vanessa.
And that was when I understood.
Daniel wasn't afraid of me.
He was afraid of her.
Officer Reynolds stepped onto the porch.
“Ma'am, please place the wooden box on the ground.””
Vanessa hesitated.
“This is a private family matter.””
“Not when the property is reported stolen.””
She reluctantly placed it beside her feet.
I reached for it.
Daniel suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Don't open it.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because there's something inside that you aren't ready to see.””
“That's not your decision.””
Daniel released me.
Maya moved closer to the box.
“It's mine,” she said.
Vanessa looked down at her.
“Your mother made a terrible mistake, Maya. You need to understand that.””
Maya's voice trembled.
“Then tell me what the mistake was.””
Nobody answered.
I crouched beside the box.
The silver key was in Vanessa's other hand.
“Give me the key.””
She shook her head.
“It's not safe.””
“Give it to me.””
Daniel stepped between us.
“Marcus, please. Let me explain before you do something you can't undo.””
I stood.
“You've had six years.””
Daniel looked toward Maya.
Then he finally said it.
“Emily wasn't sure you were Maya's biological father.””
The words landed like a physical blow.
My mother gasped behind me.
Maya stared at Daniel.
“What?””
He rubbed his face.
“Your mother discovered something during her pregnancy. She was afraid to tell Marcus because she didn't know how he would react.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Daniel looked miserable.
“She had been seeing someone before you got married.””
“Stop.””
“Marcus—”
“I said stop!””
Maya began crying.
I immediately turned toward her.
“Baby, look at me.””
She shook her head.
“Is it true?””
I took her hands.
“I don't know what happened before you were born. But nothing changes what you mean to me.””
“But what if you're not—”
“You are my daughter.””
My voice broke.
“Every school meeting. Every birthday. Every night you had a fever. Every time you called me because you were scared.
I was there. I'm your father, Maya. Nobody gets to take that away.””
She threw her arms around me.
Over her shoulder, I saw Vanessa watching us.
And she was smiling.
Not kindly.
Triumphantly.
“You should be asking why Emily never told you,” she said.
I turned.
“Why are you so interested in my marriage to a dead woman?””
Vanessa's smile faded.
“Because Emily ruined everything for me.””
The admission silenced everyone.
Daniel closed his eyes.
I took one step toward her.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa looked at Daniel, then at the box.
“She found out what happened. She threatened to expose us. I had no choice.””
“Expose what?””
She pressed the silver key into her palm.
Then Daniel said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
“Vanessa wasn't just your girlfriend when Emily died, Marcus.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Daniel looked at me.
“She was already married.””
Vanessa's face went white.
May you like
And before I could ask another question, Daniel added:
“Her husband was the man Emily believed might be Maya's biological father.””
