Chapter 7: The Woman Who Knew Too Much
Nia didn’t turn around.
Every instinct told her to.
Every question inside her demanded that she see who had entered.
But Bear’s voice stopped her.
“Don’t.””
It wasn’t a command.
It was fear.
Real fear.
The kind she had never heard from him before.
The toy store suddenly felt different.
A moment earlier, it had been a place filled with Christmas music and children searching for gifts.
Now every aisle felt like a hiding place.
Every shadow felt like someone watching.
Marcus stood near the counter, no longer smiling.
That frightened Nia more than anything.
The man who had walked in acting like he owned the truth looked nervous.
Bear noticed.
“You didn’t know they were coming.””
Marcus said nothing.
Bear’s eyes narrowed.
“Did you?””
The silence answered.
Nia slowly turned her head.
Not all the way.
Just enough.
A woman stood near the entrance.
Older.
Black.
Wearing a long dark coat and holding a small handbag.
Her face was familiar.
Not because Nia knew her.
Because she had seen her before.
In pictures.
On old holiday cards.
At the bottom of framed family photos.
“Mom?””
The word escaped before she could stop it.
The woman’s eyes filled with tears.
“Nia.””
The world stopped.
Her mother was standing ten feet away.
Alive.
Older.
Different.
But unmistakably her.
Nia’s hands began shaking.
“You’re alive.””
Her mother took a small step forward.
“I know.””
“You’re alive.””
This time, louder.
Anger mixed with disbelief.
“You let me think you were dead.””
Her mother’s face broke.
“I had to.””
“No.””
Nia shook her head.
“You don’t get to say that anymore.””
Bear looked away.
Marcus stayed silent.
For the first time, Nia understood something.
Everyone in this room knew pieces of her life.
Everyone except her.
Her mother stepped closer.
“I wanted to come sooner.””
“You could have.””
“I couldn’t.””
“Why?””
Her mother looked at Bear.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at Nia.
“Because I wasn’t sure who was still watching.””
Nia laughed bitterly.
“Watching?””
She held up the letter.
“You wrote that people wanted to hurt me.””
Her mother nodded.
“Yes.””
“Who?””
The woman looked exhausted.
“The same people who made me take you away from Bear.””
Nia looked at Bear.
“And he knew?””
Her mother’s eyes softened.
“Yes.””
Nia felt betrayed all over again.
“You all knew.””
“Nia—”
“No.””
She stepped back.
“My entire life was built around secrets.””
Her voice cracked.
“I lost years with my father because everyone decided what was best for me.””
Bear closed his eyes.
The word hit him.
Father.
Even though she hadn’t said it directly.
Her mother looked at him.
“I’m sorry.””
Bear shook his head.
“You don’t owe me that.””
“Yes, I do.””
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
“You did what you thought you had to.””
Nia looked between them.
“You’re both unbelievable.””
Her mother reached into her bag.
“I brought something.””
Nia didn’t move.
Another object.
Another secret.
She was tired of secrets.
Her mother removed a small wooden box.
The same kind of box her letter mentioned.
Nia stared.
“That’s it?””
Her mother nodded.
“The box.””
Bear stepped closer.
“Nia, don’t open it here.””
She looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because everyone who wanted it before still wants it now.””
Marcus finally spoke.
“You’re making this dramatic.””
Bear turned.
“Leave.””
Marcus laughed.
“You still think you’re in control.””
Nia looked at Marcus.
“Why do you want this box?””
Marcus’s expression changed.
For the first time, he looked directly at her.
“Because inside that box is proof that your mother destroyed my family.””
Silence.
Nia looked at her mother.
“Is that true?””
Her mother didn’t answer immediately.
That was enough.
Nia whispered:
“Oh my God.””
Her mother stepped forward.
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
Nia held the box tighter.
“You tell me everything.””
Her mother’s eyes filled.
“I will.””
“Now.””
A long pause.
Then her mother said:
“Your father wasn’t the only person protecting you.””
Nia looked at Bear.
“What does that mean?””
Her mother swallowed.
“It means there was another person involved.””
“Who?””
Her mother looked toward the entrance.
The woman who had just walked in.
The woman whose arrival had changed everything.
“Your grandmother.””
Nia froze.
“My grandmother died before I was born.””
Her mother shook her head.
“No.””
The answer was soft.
“No, she didn’t.””
The store went silent.
Nia stared.
“What?””
Her mother whispered:
“She disappeared.””
Bear looked at the box.
“And the truth about why is inside.””
Before Nia could respond, the store lights flickered again.
This time, they didn’t come back immediately.
In the darkness, someone moved.
A shelf rattled.
A box fell.
Then a voice came from the aisle behind them.
“You should have stayed hidden, Evelyn.””
May you like
Nia’s mother went pale.
Because she knew that voice.
