Chapter 3: The Name Hidden in the Past
Vanessa didn’t answer the phone.
She just stared at it.
The ringing filled the room.
A strange, uncomfortable sound during what was supposed to be a birthday party.
Marcus looked at the screen.
“Who is it?””
Vanessa quickly turned the phone away.
“Nobody.””
“Nobody makes you look terrified.””
She slipped the phone into her purse.
“I need to leave.””
Marcus stepped in front of the doorway.
“No.””
The guests exchanged nervous looks.
Nobody expected the afternoon to become this.
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“Move.””
“No.””
“Marcus, you don’t understand.””
“You’re right.””
He held up the photograph.
“I don’t understand why my wife’s own sister disappeared from her life.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You think I disappeared?””
“I know you lied.””
Vanessa’s eyes hardened.
“You have no idea what your wife was capable of.””
Maya flinched.
The words felt like an attack.
Marcus noticed.
“Watch how you talk about her.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“You still protect her.””
“Of course I do.””
“Even after everything?””
Marcus stared.
“Everything like what?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
That was the problem.
She had answers.
Too many answers.
Maya stepped closer.
“Why didn’t my mom tell me about you?””
Vanessa looked at her.
The question seemed to hurt more than Marcus’s anger.
“Because she didn’t want you to know.””
Maya’s face changed.
“Why?””
Vanessa looked down.
“I don’t know.””
Marcus immediately reacted.
“That’s a lie.””
Vanessa looked up.
“Yes.””
Everyone went silent.
“I know why.””
Maya stopped breathing for a second.
“Then tell me.””
Vanessa looked at the old sweater.
The faded fabric.
The place where the photograph had been hidden.
“She left you that sweater because she knew someone might need to find it.””
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Maya touched the hidden pocket.
“My mom put the picture here.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked away.
“Because she trusted you.””
Marcus looked confused.
“She trusted me?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She knew you would protect Maya.””
A strange sadness crossed Vanessa’s face.
“She always believed you were different.””
Marcus’s expression softened for only a moment.
Then he remembered.
“You still lied.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“I was trying to protect her.””
“By pretending you never existed?””
“Yes.””
Maya’s voice was quiet.
“Protect her from what?””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
A knock suddenly came from the front door.
Everyone turned.
Nobody moved.
Marcus looked toward it.
“We’re not expecting anyone else.””
The knock came again.
Three slow knocks.
Vanessa became completely still.
Maya noticed.
“Do you know who that is?””
Vanessa didn’t respond.
Marcus walked toward the door.
“Dad.””
He stopped.
Maya’s voice trembled.
“Don’t open it.””
Marcus looked back.
“Why?””
She pointed at Vanessa.
“Because she’s scared.””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
The person outside knocked again.
This time harder.
Marcus reached for the handle.
Vanessa whispered:
“Marcus…”
He looked at her.
“Who is it?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
The door opened.
A man stood outside.
Black, older, wearing a dark jacket.
His eyes immediately moved through the room.
Past the guests.
Past the balloons.
Past the birthday cake.
Until they landed on Maya.
The man’s expression changed.
He looked shocked.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
“You didn’t tell him.””
Vanessa’s face went pale.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Tell me what?””
The man slowly looked at the photograph in Marcus’s hand.
Then he said:
“That picture was never supposed to be found.””
Maya felt her stomach drop.
The stranger reached into his coat pocket.
He pulled out an envelope.
Old.
Folded.
Worn at the edges.
And written across the front were four words.
Marcus saw them.
His face changed.
Because the handwriting was familiar.
It was Maya’s mother’s handwriting.
The man held out the envelope.
“She wanted her daughter to read this someday.””
Marcus stared at it.
May you like
Then he looked at Maya.
And realized the secret hidden in the sweater was only the beginning.
