Chapter 3: What Maya Was Hiding
Marcus forgot about the phone.
“What do you mean, not the first time?””
Maya's face crumpled.
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“She doesn't know what she's talking about.””
Marcus didn't look at Vanessa.
He kept his eyes on Maya.
“Maya.””
The girl wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.
Vanessa shook her head slightly.
“Don't.””
Marcus saw it.
Again.
That tiny warning.
That silent command.
His voice became firm.
“Maya, you can tell me.””
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“She is being dramatic because she didn't get a pair of shoes.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“Stop.””
The hallway went quiet.
Vanessa blinked.
Marcus had never said it to her like that.
He crouched in front of Maya.
“Tell me what happened.””
Maya looked at the floor.
Then she whispered, “Last month, I needed a new backpack.””
Vanessa interrupted.
“She didn't need one.””
Maya continued.
“The zipper was broken.””
Marcus frowned.
“You told me it was fine.””
Maya nodded.
“Vanessa told me to use it anyway.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Because it was still usable.””
Marcus stood.
“And what happened?””
Maya's fingers tightened around the strap of the old bag she was still wearing.
“The books fell out at school.””
Marcus's jaw clenched.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
Maya looked at Vanessa.
The answer was obvious.
Marcus saw it.
“Vanessa?””
She shrugged.
“She should have taken better care of it.””
Marcus stared at her.
“That backpack was ripped.””
“It was old.””
“You bought Noah a new one.””
Vanessa's silence lasted too long.
Marcus remembered.
A few weeks earlier, he'd come home and seen a bright new backpack sitting by Noah's bedroom door.
He hadn't thought anything of it.
Now he did.
Maya whispered, “She said Noah needed it more.””
Marcus turned slowly.
“More?””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“Oh, please. Don't make this into something it isn't.””
Marcus pointed at Maya.
“She is ten years old.””
“I know how old she is.””
“She shouldn't be afraid to tell me when she needs shoes.””
“She isn't afraid.””
Maya spoke softly.
“I am.””
Vanessa's face went blank.
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“What are you afraid of?””
Maya's eyes filled again.
“Making her mad.””
Marcus's shoulders dropped slightly.
For a moment, he looked heartbroken.
Then he turned toward Vanessa.
“How long?””
She didn't answer.
“How long has she been afraid of you?””
“Marcus, you're twisting everything.””
“How long?””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“She needs discipline.””
“That's not an answer.””
“She lives in my house.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Our house.””
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
“She needs to understand that not everything is hers just because she asks.””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“And Noah?””
Vanessa looked toward her son.
“What about him?””
“He asks. He gets.””
“He's six.””
“So Maya has to earn everything because she's older?””
Vanessa looked away.
Maya stood silently beside the wall.
Marcus noticed something on her wrist.
A faint red mark.
He reached for her hand.
“What happened here?””
Maya pulled her sleeve down.
“Nothing.””
“Maya.””
“Nothing, Dad.””
Vanessa answered quickly.
“She fell.””
Marcus looked at her.
“When?””
“Yesterday.””
Maya shook her head.
“No, I didn't.””
Vanessa's face changed.
Marcus noticed.
“What did she just say?””
Maya looked terrified.
“I said I didn't fall.””
Vanessa took a step toward her.
“Maya.””
Marcus moved between them.
“Don't.””
Vanessa stopped.
Noah looked confused.
“Mom?””
Vanessa forced a smile.
“It's okay, baby.””
Marcus looked at Maya.
“Did Vanessa hurt you?””
Maya shook her head.
“No.””
“Did she grab you?””
Silence.
“Maya?””
Her eyes dropped.
“Yes.””
Marcus closed his eyes for a second.
When he opened them, the anger was no longer hidden.
Vanessa immediately defended herself.
“I barely touched her.””
“You grabbed her?””
“She was being disrespectful.””
“She is ten.””
“She needs boundaries.””
Marcus laughed once, without humor.
“Boundaries?””
He looked at the red mark.
Then at Maya's torn shoes.
Then at Noah's four brand-new boxes.
The pieces were beginning to fit together.
He picked up the rejected $34 sneaker box.
“Maya.””
She looked at him.
“You're getting these.””
Vanessa stepped forward.
“No.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Yes.””
“You're undermining me.””
“No. I'm correcting you.””
Vanessa's face reddened.
“You don't get to walk in here and act like you know everything.””
Marcus held her gaze.
“Then tell me.””
“I don't have to.””
“You're right.””
He nodded toward the shopping bags.
“I'll figure it out myself.””
Vanessa's expression suddenly changed.
“Marcus, wait.””
He stopped.
She reached into her purse.
Her phone buzzed again.
This time, Marcus heard it.
Vanessa looked down.
Another message.
*He can't know about the account.*
Marcus saw her face.
“What account?””
Vanessa locked the phone instantly.
“Nothing.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“What account?””
“It's private.””
“For what?””
Vanessa said nothing.
Marcus looked at Maya.
“Does she know?””
Maya hesitated.
Vanessa whispered, “Maya, don't.””
Marcus turned.
“Don't what?””
Maya began crying.
“I wasn't supposed to tell you.””
Marcus's voice softened.
“Tell me what?””
Maya looked at Vanessa one last time.
Then she reached into the pocket of her oversized white T-shirt.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled out a folded piece of paper.
“I found this in her room.””
Marcus took it.
He unfolded it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then stopped.
At the top was Maya's name.
Underneath it was a handwritten list.
*Shoes — $34 — earn it.*
*Backpack — $42 — earn it.*
*School trip — $75 — earn it.*
And at the bottom, written in darker ink:
*Keep Marcus from giving her money.*
Marcus slowly raised his eyes.
Vanessa had gone completely still.
Maya whispered, “Dad… there was one more page.””
Marcus's grip tightened around the paper.
“What page?””
Maya looked toward the hallway behind them.
“The one that said why she doesn't want you giving me anything.””
Then, from inside Vanessa's purse, the phone buzzed again.
This time the screen lit up long enough for Marcus to see the sender's name.
*Derrick.*
Vanessa reached for the phone.
May you like
Marcus caught her wrist.
“Who is Derrick?””
