Chapter 3: The Doctor's Warning
Rain rolled off the edge of the covered entrance in silver sheets.
I held the phone against my ear and stared at my wife.
“Doctor, I haven't taken anything that wasn't prescribed to me,” I said.
“What test results are you talking about?””
Dr. Coleman paused.
“Your routine blood work showed an abnormal finding that requires clarification. I can't draw conclusions from that alone, but your wife called yesterday with questions about substances that could cause unusual results.””
Vanessa took a step backward.
I noticed.
So did Malik.
“Dad,” he whispered, “why is Mom scared?””
I raised one finger, asking him to wait.
“Doctor, did my wife tell you that I had been taking something?””
“She asked whether certain medications could affect your alertness and blood chemistry. I advised her that I couldn't discuss your care without your authorization.””
“What medications?””
“I'd prefer to review the actual results with you in person. The finding isn't enough to establish what caused it, and there are several possible explanations.””
“Can you tell me whether I need emergency treatment?””
“If you're experiencing confusion, unusual drowsiness, difficulty breathing, fainting, or other severe symptoms, seek emergency care immediately. Otherwise, please arrange an urgent appointment so we can review the results properly.””
“I understand.””
“Mr. Darius, one more thing. Did you authorize your wife to contact us about changing your medication?””
“No.””
Silence followed.
Then Dr. Coleman said, “All right. I'll document that and discuss the appropriate next steps with you directly.””
The call ended.
For several seconds, I stood motionless.
My wife had contacted my doctor about substances that could affect my alertness. Rosa had seen her near my drink. And a recording captured Vanessa threatening Rosa after she witnessed something she wasn't supposed to see.
None of it proved what had happened.
But together, the details formed a picture I could no longer ignore.
I lowered the phone.
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“Darius, let me explain.””
“Did you call my doctor yesterday?””
“I was worried about you.””
“Did you ask him about medications that could make me sleepy?””
Her eyes darted toward the children.
“I was asking questions.””
“Why?””
“Because you've been exhausted lately. You've been working too much, and sometimes you fall asleep on the couch.””
“That's what you told the doctor?””
“That's what happened!””
I remembered the previous week. I remembered waking on the couch one afternoon with my laptop open on the floor and an unfinished glass of juice on the coffee table. I had blamed the exhaustion on work.
I remembered another afternoon when I had struggled to keep my eyes open during a meeting at home. Vanessa had laughed and said I needed a vacation.
At the time, her concern had seemed genuine.
Now, every memory carried a question.
I stepped away from the house.
“I'm not discussing this in front of the children.””
Vanessa's voice rose.
“Then send them inside!””
“No.””
“Darius, they're frightened.””
“They're frightened because you've been screaming at Rosa and throwing her belongings into the rain.””
“I was trying to get her out before she caused more damage!””
Rosa flinched.
I turned toward her.
“Rosa, have you eaten today?””
She looked confused by the question.
“No, sir.””
“Have you had anything to drink?””
She shook her head.
I opened the SUV's rear door and took out a bottle of water I kept in the vehicle.
“Here. Take this.””
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Vanessa watched as Rosa accepted it.
Then she pointed toward the suitcases.
“You're seriously going to reward her for this?””
“Reward her?””
“You're treating her like a victim when she's been manipulating everyone in this house!””
Rosa tightened her grip around the water bottle.
“I have never wanted anything from you except the chance to do my job.””
“Then why didn't you tell Darius about the drink when it happened?””
Rosa's eyes filled again.
“Because you threatened me.””
Vanessa threw up her hands.
“Oh, for heaven's sake! I told you to stop spreading rumors. That's not a threat.””
Malik suddenly spoke.
“You told her nobody would believe her.””
Vanessa turned toward him.
“Malik, you need to stop.””
“You said Dad would think she was a thief.””
“That's enough!””
“No!”” Malik shouted.
His small voice cracked, but he continued.
“You made Ava cry last night because she wanted Rosa to read her a story. You said Rosa wasn't part of our family.””
Ava lifted her head from my shoulder.
“Mommy said Rosa had to leave because she wasn't important.””
Vanessa stared at both children.
For a moment, I saw something flicker across her face that looked almost like shame.
Then it vanished.
“You have no idea what it's like to manage this household,” she said to me.
“You walk through that door every evening and expect everything to be perfect. You don't see what I deal with.””
“Then tell me what you're dealing with.””
She looked away.
“It's complicated.””
“Try me.””
Her hands curled into fists.
“I made a mistake.””
The words were so quiet that I almost missed them.
Rosa stopped drinking.
I felt Ava stiffen in my arms.
“What mistake?”” I asked.
Vanessa looked at the recorder.
“I never meant for any of this to happen.””
“Any of what?””
She shook her head.
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
“Soon.””
“After you threw Rosa out? After you convinced everyone she was a thief? Or after the doctor called me?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“You're making me sound like a monster.””
“I'm asking you a question.””
She pressed a trembling hand against her chest.
“I did it because I was afraid.””
“Afraid of what?””
Her gaze moved toward the front door again.
That small movement told me she was thinking about something inside the house.
Something she wanted to reach before I could.
I stepped in front of her.
“Don't go inside.””
She stared at me.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me. Nobody touches anything until we understand what's happening.””
“This is my home!””
“And I'm asking you to wait.””
She gave a bitter laugh.
“You can't order me around, Darius.””
“Then stay because your children are watching.””
For a moment, the rain was the only sound between us.
Then Vanessa looked at Malik.
“Baby, come here.””
He shook his head and clung to my arm.
“Malik, I'm your mother.””
“You scared Rosa.””
“I was upset.””
“You scared Ava, too.””
Vanessa's expression crumpled.
I almost moved toward her.
Almost.
Then I remembered the recording.
You weren't supposed to see that.
I remembered the doctor's warning.
And I remembered how quickly Vanessa had accused Rosa of stealing before I had even stepped out of the SUV.
I couldn't comfort my wife until I understood what she had done.
My phone vibrated again.
This time, a message appeared from an unknown number.
There was no greeting.
No explanation.
Only one sentence.
*Ask your wife what happened to the last man who questioned her about his medication.*
I read it twice.
Then I looked up.
Vanessa was staring at my screen.
Her face had lost every trace of color.
“Who sent that?”” she whispered.
“I was about to ask you the same thing.””
She reached for my phone.
I pulled it away.
“Darius, don't listen to them.””
“Who is them?””
She shook her head rapidly.
“You don't know what you're getting involved in.””
I took a step toward her.
“Then tell me.””
Her mouth opened.
And from somewhere inside our bright, quiet house came the unmistakable sound of a phone ringing.
Vanessa turned toward the doorway.
A second later, she whispered a name I hadn't heard in years.
“Marcus.””
Rosa dropped the water bottle.
The plastic struck the driveway, and water spilled across the concrete.
I stared at her.
“Rosa, who is Marcus?””
She looked at Vanessa, then at me.
Her lips trembled.
“Mr. Darius,” she said, “if that man is calling again, then you need to know what happened the last time he came to this house.””
She reached into the pocket of her soaked cardigan and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
Then she placed it in my hand.
At the top was a date from three years earlier.
Beneath it was my signature.
May you like
And beside it, in handwriting I recognized immediately, were the words:
*Patient refused further investigation at spouse's request.*
