Chapter 5: The Person Who Signed My Name
My father didn’t speak for almost thirty seconds.
I knew something was wrong because Marcus always filled silence.
He joked when things were uncomfortable.
He explained when things were confusing.
But now he just listened.
“Yes,” he finally said into the phone.
He walked toward the window.
“Yes, I’m the account holder.””
A pause.
“No, I did not approve that.””
Vanessa sat down slowly.
The confidence she had walked into the room with was gone.
Brielle stayed standing near the suitcase, staring at the floor.
I watched my father’s face.
Every few seconds, his jaw tightened.
Finally, he said:
“Send me the confirmation email.””
Another pause.
“Now.””
He ended the call.
Nobody moved.
“What happened?”” I asked.
Marcus looked at me.
Then at Vanessa.
“The airline received another request.””
Vanessa looked away.
“What kind of request?””
My father didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me more than anything.
“Someone requested to remove Maya from the travel group.””
My chest tightened.
“I was removed?””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
He walked back toward us.
“They tried.””
Tried.
That word should have made me feel better.
It didn’t.
Because someone had tried to erase me.
Someone had taken the time to make a phone call.
Someone had entered information.
Someone had planned it.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Who did this?””
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“I don’t know.””
My father stared at her.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I’m telling the truth.””
“You lied about the ticket.””
“That doesn’t mean I did everything.””
The room went quiet.
Because that was the first time Vanessa admitted there was more.
Marcus noticed too.
“Everything?””
Vanessa looked nervous.
“I mean…”
“No.””
His voice sharpened.
“You don’t get to change your words now.””
She looked at me.
“Maya, you need to understand something.””
I stepped back.
“Every time you say that, it means I’m about to hear something I don’t want to hear.””
Her expression softened for a moment.
But I couldn’t trust it anymore.
“I was trying to make things easier.””
“For who?”” I asked.
She didn’t answer.
Marcus picked up the suitcase.
Not angrily.
Carefully.
Like he was handling evidence.
He opened it.
Inside were clothes.
Not mine.
Brielle’s.
New outfits.
New shoes.
A new travel bag.
He looked at Vanessa.
“When did you pack this?””
Vanessa stayed quiet.
“Vanessa.””
“Last week.””
Last week.
I felt sick.
Last week, I had been sitting at the dinner table talking about what snacks I would bring on the plane.
Last week, I had been asking Dad if we could visit the beach.
Last week, Vanessa had already decided.
Marcus looked at Brielle.
“Did you know she packed this?””
Brielle shook her head.
“Not until today.””
I believed her.
Because Brielle looked just as uncomfortable as I felt.
My father closed the suitcase.
“Maya.””
I looked at him.
“We’re going to figure this out.””
I nodded, but my eyes stayed on Vanessa.
Because there was one thing I couldn’t stop thinking about.
She hadn’t looked guilty when she told me I was staying home.
She had looked prepared.
Prepared for me to cry.
Prepared for me to argue.
Prepared for my dad to be upset.
Almost like she knew exactly how far she could push before someone stopped her.
My father’s phone buzzed.
Another email.
He opened it.
Then his face changed.
“Maya.””
I walked closer.
“What?””
He turned the screen toward me.
It wasn’t the airline this time.
It was a document.
A travel authorization form.
At the bottom was a signature.
My signature.
Except I had never signed it.
My hands went cold.
“That’s not mine.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“Then whose is it?””
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Brielle looked at the paper.
Then suddenly covered her mouth.
“What?””
Marcus turned toward her.
“What did you recognize?””
Brielle’s eyes filled with fear.
“I’ve seen that handwriting before.””
Nobody moved.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Whose handwriting?””
Brielle looked directly at Vanessa.
May you like
And whispered:
“Mom’s.””
