Chapter 2: The Room That Was Never Mine to Enter
My father read the message twice.
Then he looked at me.
"Who sent that?""
"Lauren.""
Vanessa immediately reached for my phone.
"Give me that.""
I pulled it away.
"Why?""
"Because my daughter has a habit of creating problems where there aren't any.""
Dad's eyes narrowed.
"Your daughter just warned Maya about something happening in my house.""
"Lauren doesn't know what she's talking about.""
"Then you won't mind if I ask her.""
Vanessa stepped between him and the hallway.
"Daniel, please. You're tired. You've had a stressful week. We should sit down and talk tomorrow.""
Dad gave a short, humorless laugh.
"Tomorrow? Someone appears to have signed a document in my name, and you're asking me to wait until tomorrow?""
"Nobody stole anything.""
"Then explain the paperwork.""
She picked up her mug.
"I've already explained.""
"No, Vanessa. You've said a lot of words without answering a single question.""
I watched her face.
She looked different now.
The confidence she'd displayed when ordering me out had disappeared. Her eyes kept moving between Dad, the folder, and my phone.
I typed a response to Lauren.
What are you talking about?
The reply came almost immediately.
I can't explain over text. Meet me tomorrow morning.
Why not tonight?
Three dots appeared.
Then disappeared.
Finally, another message arrived.
Because Mom checks my phone.
I looked up.
Vanessa was watching me.
"Who are you texting?""
"Lauren.""
"About what?""
"She wants to talk.""
Vanessa laughed sharply.
"Of course she does.""
Dad put the folder under his arm.
"That's enough. Maya is staying here tonight.""
Vanessa's mouth opened.
"Daniel—"
"She's sleeping in her old room. You and I are going to discuss these documents.""
He took my suitcase upstairs.
I followed him.
The staircase creaked beneath our feet, just as it had when I was sixteen.
At the top, Dad stopped outside my bedroom.
He opened the door.
I felt something catch in my throat.
The pale blue curtains were still there. My old bookshelf stood against the wall, although most of the books had been moved. A small ceramic lamp sat beside the bed.
But the room felt strangely empty.
My childhood photographs were gone.
The framed picture of Mom holding me at the beach had disappeared.
Even the little wooden jewelry box she had given me was missing.
"Where's everything?"" I asked.
Dad looked around.
"Vanessa said you wanted your things packed away.""
"I never said that.""
He frowned.
"She told me you didn't want reminders of the past.""
I turned toward him.
"Why would I ever say that?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he walked to the closet.
A few old dresses hung inside, along with a winter coat and a box of school notebooks.
"Your things are probably in the attic," he said.
I looked at him.
"Probably?""
He seemed embarrassed.
"I've been busy, sweetheart.""
I wanted to believe him.
I wanted to believe that he hadn't noticed how much of my mother's presence had vanished from the house.
But the truth was sitting right in front of me.
He had been living here.
He had walked past these empty walls every day.
And somehow, he hadn't realized what had disappeared.
"Did you know Vanessa wanted to sell the house?"" I asked.
Dad shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
"Then why does she have documents?""
"I don't know.""
He put his hand on my shoulder.
"But I'll find out.""
His phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
"That's my attorney.""
He answered.
"Richard, it's Daniel. I need you to come over first thing tomorrow morning.""
A pause.
"No, it's urgent.""
Another pause.
Dad's expression darkened.
"What do you mean you've already received the transfer paperwork?""
I stopped breathing.
He listened.
Then he looked directly at me.
"Who submitted it?""
Silence.
"Vanessa?""
I watched his face.
"Are you sure?""
Another pause.
"All right. Bring everything you have.""
He ended the call.
"What did he say?"" I asked.
Dad sat on the edge of my bed.
"Richard said someone submitted an application to transfer the property several weeks ago.""
"With your signature?""
"He hasn't confirmed that yet.""
"Who submitted it?""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Vanessa's attorney.""
I stared at him.
"How could she do that without you knowing?""
"She told me she was handling some insurance and tax paperwork. I signed a few routine documents months ago.""
My stomach tightened.
"What documents?""
"I don't remember.""
I thought about the folder.
"Could she have used one of those signatures?""
Dad didn't respond.
Instead, he looked toward the hallway.
"Stay here tonight. Don't argue with Vanessa.""
"Why?""
"Because I don't know what she's planning, and I don't want you caught in the middle.""
I almost laughed.
"She already put me in the middle when she told me to leave.""
He gave me a sad smile.
"I know.""
He stood and kissed my forehead.
"Good night, sweetheart.""
When he left, I sat on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
A few minutes later, I heard voices downstairs.
At first, they were muffled.
Then Vanessa's voice became clear.
"You promised me this wouldn't happen.""
Dad answered.
"I promised you we'd have a marriage. I never promised you my house.""
"You don't understand how much I've sacrificed.""
"And what exactly have you sacrificed?""
I heard a chair scrape.
Then Vanessa said something that made my blood run cold.
"Your daughter is going to destroy everything.""
Dad's voice rose.
"Don't you dare blame Maya for this.""
I stepped into the hallway.
The study door was slightly open.
Through the gap, I could see Dad standing beside his desk.
Vanessa was facing him with her arms folded.
"You know what happens if Lauren doesn't get that house," she said.
Dad shook his head.
"Lauren has her own apartment.""
"She has debts.""
"Then she needs to manage them.""
"She's your family too.""
Dad stared at her.
"Not at the expense of my daughter.""
Vanessa stepped closer.
"You're going to regret choosing her.""
Dad pointed toward the door.
"Get out.""
Vanessa didn't move.
Instead, she reached into her handbag and placed a small silver key on the desk.
"You should think carefully before you start making accusations.""
Dad looked at the key.
"What is that?""
"Something you might want to see before you decide to call Richard.""
She turned and walked out.
I quickly stepped back into my bedroom.
A moment later, Dad entered the hallway.
He didn't see me.
He walked into the study and closed the door.
I waited.
Then I heard the metallic click of a lock.
A drawer opened.
Footsteps moved across the room.
And finally, Dad whispered a word I could barely hear.
"Impossible.""
I stepped toward the door.
"Everything okay?""
The study door opened.
Dad stood there holding a photograph.
It showed him standing beside Vanessa in front of our house.
But there was something strange about it.
The photograph had been taken in the backyard, beside the old oak tree.
And on the back, someone had written a date.
A date from six months before my father married Vanessa.
"Where did you get that?"" I asked.
Dad stared at the handwriting.
"I found it in the safe.""
"What safe?""
He looked at me.
"The one Vanessa told you not to let me open.""
My heart began pounding.
"What's inside?""
He glanced toward the stairs.
"Documents. Old bank statements. Some things belonging to your mother.""
I stepped closer.
"Why would Vanessa have my mother's things?""
Dad looked down at the photograph again.
"I don't think she does.""
He turned it over.
There was another sentence beneath the date.
Daniel, if you ever find this, ask Vanessa what happened to the money.
Dad's fingers began to shake.
"What money?"" I whispered.
He didn't answer.
Instead, he looked at me with an expression I'd never seen before.
Fear.
May you like
And then his phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID showed Lauren.
