Chapter 2: Her Mother’s Letter
Arthur didn't answer.
That frightened Nia more than anything Vanessa had said.
She stood on the porch with one hand wrapped around the suitcase handle and the sealed envelope in the other.
“Dad?””
Arthur stared at the handwriting.
Vanessa moved toward her.
“Give me that.””
Nia pulled the envelope against her chest.
“No.””
“You don't know what that is.””
“It has Mom's name on it.””
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
“I said give it to me.””
Arthur stepped between them.
“Vanessa.””
She stopped.
Arthur held out his hand toward Nia.
“Let me see it.””
Nia hesitated.
Then she handed it over.
Arthur studied the envelope without opening it.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
Nia had seen it on birthday cards, grocery lists, notes left beside her breakfast plate.
Her mother's handwriting.
Arthur turned the envelope over.
The seal was intact.
“Who gave this to you?”” Nia asked.
Arthur looked at Vanessa.
“She had it.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No. I found it.””
“Where?””
“In a box.””
“What box?””
Vanessa's lips tightened.
“The box with your mother's things.””
Nia stepped forward.
“You went through Mom's things?””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“It has been eighteen years, Nia. Somebody had to clean out the storage room.””
“You had no right.””
“I live here.””
“My mother lived here.””
“She died.””
Nia flinched.
Arthur's expression hardened.
“Enough.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“You're acting like I'm the villain because I asked your daughter to contribute to this household.””
Arthur looked at the suitcase.
“You didn't ask.””
“What?””
“You threw her belongings onto the porch.””
“She refused to cooperate.””
Arthur's voice remained low.
“You changed the locks on her bedroom last week.””
Vanessa blinked.
Nia looked at him.
“How did you know that?””
“I came home early.””
“When?””
“Tuesday.””
Nia's face fell.
“Dad, you were here Tuesday?””
“Yes.””
“And you didn't tell me?””
Arthur looked away.
“I needed to see something for myself.””
Nia's throat tightened.
“What?””
Arthur didn't answer.
Instead, he opened the legal folder again.
“I went to your mother's attorney.””
Vanessa's face drained.
“You did what?””
“I asked him to pull the original estate documents.””
“Arthur, you had no reason—”
“I had every reason.””
He removed another sheet.
“This property was placed in a trust.””
Nia stared at him.
“A trust?””
Arthur nodded.
“Your mother created it six months before she died.””
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“That old document? Arthur, you know how complicated those things are.””
Arthur didn't look at her.
“The house was protected for Nia.””
Silence.
Nia looked around the foyer.
The staircase.
The chandelier.
The framed family photographs.
The dining room where her mother used to dance while cooking.
All these years, Nia had believed Vanessa was the one keeping the house together after her mother's death.
Now she wondered what had actually been happening behind the walls.
“Why didn't you tell me?”” Nia asked.
Arthur closed his eyes for a moment.
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“From what?””
He opened his eyes.
“From this.””
He pointed toward Vanessa.
Vanessa's face twisted.
“You're blaming me?””
Arthur finally looked at her.
“You signed a transfer document attempting to move ownership of this property into your name.””
Vanessa's voice became defensive.
“That was a mistake.””
“Three pages?””
“I was told it was something else.””
“By whom?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Nia looked between them.
“Who helped you?””
Vanessa grabbed her handbag.
“Nobody.””
The sealed envelope slipped farther out.
Nia caught sight of it.
“Mom wrote that.””
Vanessa stopped.
Arthur noticed too.
Nia took one step closer.
“Why was it in your bag?””
Vanessa clutched the handbag against her side.
“I don't know.””
“You just said you found it in a box.””
“I did.””
“Then why is it in your purse?””
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Arthur held out his hand.
“Vanessa, give me the bag.””
“No.””
“Give it to me.””
“You don't get to search my belongings.””
Arthur's expression turned cold.
“Then explain why you have a letter addressed to Nia that was sealed eighteen years ago.””
Vanessa backed toward the kitchen.
Nia followed.
“Mom knew something.””
“Nia,” Vanessa said, “you don't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
“I was trying to protect this family.””
“From what?””
Vanessa looked at Arthur.
Then at Nia.
Her eyes filled with something Nia couldn't identify.
Fear.
Guilt.
Maybe both.
“You think your mother was perfect,” Vanessa whispered.
Nia's face hardened.
“Don't.””
“She wasn't.””
“Stop talking about her.””
“She left things behind that could destroy your father.””
Arthur's head snapped toward her.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa immediately looked away.
Nia felt cold.
“What things?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I shouldn't have said that.””
Arthur moved toward her.
“Tell her.””
“No.””
“Tell her.””
Vanessa backed into the kitchen counter.
“I can't.””
Nia's voice trembled.
“Can't or won't?””
Vanessa's phone suddenly rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed instantly.
Arthur noticed.
“Who is it?””
Vanessa silenced the call.
“No one.””
The phone rang again.
This time Nia saw the screen.
There was no name.
Just a number.
Vanessa declined it.
A message appeared.
She read it.
Her hands began shaking.
Nia stepped closer.
“What did they say?””
Vanessa locked the phone.
“Nothing.””
Arthur reached for the phone.
Vanessa pulled it away.
Then came a knock at the front door.
Three slow knocks.
Everyone froze.
Arthur turned toward the foyer.
Nia's heart raced.
Another knock.
Vanessa whispered something Nia could barely hear.
“No…”
Arthur looked at her.
“Who is outside?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
May you like
The door handle began to turn.
And Vanessa whispered, “He was never supposed to come back.””
