Chapter 5: The Second Child
Marcus stared at his phone.
For several seconds, the entire hallway seemed to disappear.
The store music became a distant hum.
Maya stood beside him, clutching the worn strap of her backpack.
Noah sat on the bench, swinging his legs.
Vanessa watched Marcus with the expression of someone waiting for a verdict.
Marcus pressed redial.
The number was unavailable.
He tried again.
Nothing.
“Who is the other child?”” he asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know what you're talking about.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Derrick just called me.””
“I heard him.””
“He said you're not the only child involved.””
“He's lying.””
“Then tell me what he's lying about.””
Vanessa grabbed her purse.
“I want to go home.””
Marcus stepped aside.
“Go.””
She looked surprised.
Then she took Noah's hand.
Marcus pointed toward the entrance.
“But Maya stays.””
Vanessa's grip tightened around Noah's fingers.
“Maya is coming with us.””
“No.””
“She lives with us.””
“She stays with me tonight.””
Vanessa's face hardened.
“You don't get to punish me by taking her.””
Marcus stared at her.
“This isn't punishment.””
“Then what is it?””
“Protection.””
The word silenced her.
Maya looked up at her father.
Marcus softened.
“You're not going anywhere with Vanessa tonight.””
Maya's eyes filled.
“Okay.””
Vanessa stared at her.
“You're choosing him now?””
Maya's lower lip trembled.
Marcus stepped in front of his daughter.
“Don't put her in the middle.””
“She already is in the middle.””
“Because you put her there.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You don't know what she's like when you're not around.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“What is she like?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Difficult.””
Maya whispered, “I'm not.””
Marcus looked down.
“I know.””
Vanessa turned away.
The security guard approached cautiously.
“Everything okay?””
Marcus nodded.
“We're fine.””
Vanessa forced a smile.
“Family disagreement.””
The guard nodded and walked away.
Marcus waited until he was gone.
Then he looked at Maya.
“Do you have your phone?””
Maya nodded.
“Call Grandma.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
“No.””
Marcus turned.
“Why not?””
“She doesn't need to get involved.””
Marcus pulled out his own phone.
“She does now.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Marcus, please.””
He looked at her.
That single word stopped him.
Vanessa's voice trembled.
“Just take Maya home. Don't call anyone yet.””
Marcus studied her face.
“You're asking me to keep this quiet.””
“I am asking you to let me explain.””
“You've had months.””
“I didn't know how.””
“You knew how to buy Noah four pairs of shoes.””
Vanessa looked down.
Marcus called Maya's grandmother.
While the phone rang, Maya whispered, “Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“Can I tell you something?””
“Always.””
Maya looked at Vanessa.
Then she whispered, “Derrick isn't the person you should be asking about.””
Marcus's brows drew together.
“Why?””
“Because I saw another name.””
“What name?””
Maya's voice dropped.
“Evelyn.””
Vanessa's eyes widened.
Marcus noticed.
“Who is Evelyn?””
Vanessa said nothing.
“Maya?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
“Who is Evelyn?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No one.””
Maya looked at her father.
“She had her own room.””
The silence that followed was absolute.
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“What did you say?””
Maya swallowed.
“In the basement.””
Vanessa's face went white.
Marcus's grandmother answered the phone.
“Marcus?””
He didn't respond immediately.
“Marcus, honey?””
He finally spoke.
“Mom, I need you to come get Maya.””
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“Please don't.””
Marcus ignored her.
“And I need you to bring someone with you.””
His mother heard the tension.
“What happened?””
Marcus looked at the list in his hand.
“I don't know yet.””
Maya whispered, “I do.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“What?””
Maya reached into her backpack.
She pulled out a small spiral notebook.
“I wrote everything down.””
Vanessa lunged.
“Maya!””
Marcus caught the notebook before Vanessa could grab it.
He stepped backward.
“Don't touch her.””
Vanessa froze.
Marcus opened the notebook.
The first pages contained childish handwriting.
Dates.
Times.
Short sentences.
*Monday — Vanessa told me not to eat until Noah finished.*
Marcus's face tightened.
He turned the page.
*Wednesday — She said Dad gives me too much.*
Another page.
*Friday — She made me carry Noah's bags.*
Another.
*Tuesday — She said if I told Dad, he'd leave her.*
Marcus stopped.
His breathing changed.
“Maya…”
She looked down.
Marcus turned another page.
At the bottom, written in larger letters:
*Evelyn was here again.*
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Who is Evelyn?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“You keep saying that.””
“Because I don't!””
Marcus held up the notebook.
“Then why does my daughter know her name?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Marcus stared at her.
“From what?””
She wiped her cheek.
“From losing everything.””
Marcus looked at the notebook again.
Then his mother spoke through the phone.
“Marcus, honey, what does she mean?””
He didn't answer.
Instead, he asked Vanessa one final question.
“Is Evelyn alive?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“Yes.””
Marcus felt the floor seem to shift beneath him.
“Where is she?””
Vanessa looked toward the mall exit.
“I can't tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because if you find her…”
She stopped.
Marcus stepped closer.
“If I find her, what?””
Vanessa whispered:
“She'll tell you who Maya's real mother is.””
Marcus went completely still.
Maya looked up.
“Dad?””
May you like
He slowly turned toward his daughter.
And for the first time, he realized there was a question he had never thought to ask.
