Chapter 3: The Name On The Screen
The Christmas lights continued blinking above us.
Red.
Green.
Gold.
Beautiful colors surrounding the ugliest moment our family had ever faced.
Arthur stared at his phone.
Nobody breathed.
“Dad?”” Marcus asked.
Arthur slowly lowered the phone.
“It’s someone from the past.””
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“Don’t answer.””
Everyone looked at her.
She realized her mistake.
Too late.
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
That was the first time I saw fear replace her confidence completely.
Arthur answered the phone.
“Hello?””
The room became silent.
I could hear the tiny sounds of Emma breathing against my shoulder.
Arthur listened.
His face became more serious with every second.
“Yes.””
A pause.
“No, she’s here.””
My stomach tightened.
Who was he talking about?
Arthur looked at me.
Then at Emma.
Then at Marcus.
“I understand.””
He ended the call.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Who was it?””
Arthur placed the phone on the table.
“Someone who has been trying to reach me for years.””
Vanessa whispered:
“You shouldn’t have answered.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“You know who it was.””
She didn’t respond.
That was enough.
I walked back into the dining room.
“Marcus.””
He looked at me.
“I need you to tell me something.””
“What?””
“Did you know?””
His expression changed.
“Know what?””
“Anything about Emma.””
The pain in his eyes told me he understood exactly what I meant.
“Nia, no.””
I looked at him.
“Then why is everyone acting like my daughter is a secret?””
He stepped closer.
“Emma is my daughter.””
The words were immediate.
Strong.
Certain.
But Vanessa laughed quietly.
And that scared me more than anger.
“You really believe that?””
Marcus turned.
“Stop.””
“No, Marcus. You deserve to know everything.””
Arthur slammed his hand onto the table.
“Enough.””
Everyone went silent.
Arthur looked at Vanessa.
“You have spent years protecting yourself.””
Vanessa’s face hardened.
“And you spent years pretending you were innocent.””
Marcus looked between them.
“What happened between you two?””
Arthur didn’t answer.
Instead, he picked up the envelope.
“This was supposed to be opened years ago.””
My heart pounded.
“But it wasn’t,” Arthur continued.
“Why?”” I asked.
Arthur looked down.
“Because someone begged me not to.””
Everyone turned toward Vanessa.
Her face went completely still.
Marcus whispered:
“You?””
Vanessa didn’t deny it.
And that was worse.
“You knew about this envelope?””
She looked at him.
“I knew your father was keeping something.””
“That’s not what I asked.””
Vanessa looked away.
Marcus’s voice became colder.
“Did you know?””
A long silence.
Then she said:
“Yes.””
The room seemed to shrink.
I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“How?”” Marcus asked.
Vanessa looked at the envelope.
“Because I was there when it was created.””
Arthur closed his eyes.
Like hearing those words hurt him.
I held Emma closer.
Marcus looked at his father.
“Dad?””
Arthur didn’t answer.
He walked toward the table.
“Some things should have been told long ago.””
“Then tell them now,” Marcus said.
Arthur reached for the envelope.
His fingers touched the seal.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“No.””
Marcus blocked her.
“Why are you so desperate to stop this?””
Her eyes moved from him to me.
Then to Emma.
And for one second, I saw something strange.
Not hatred.
Guilt.
Then it disappeared.
“You don’t understand what happens after that envelope opens.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Then explain.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I can’t.””
“Can’t?””
She swallowed.
“Because you won’t believe me.””
Arthur looked at Marcus.
“Son.””
Marcus turned.
Arthur held the envelope out.
“This belongs to you.””
Marcus reached for it.
But before his fingers touched the paper, the dining room door suddenly opened.
A cold winter breeze rushed in.
Everyone turned.
A figure stood outside.
Someone holding a photograph.
Someone who looked directly at Emma.
May you like
And whispered:
“I finally found her.””
