Chapter 2
The number on the document was $480,000.
I stared at it.
Then I looked toward Marcus.
For the first time in my life, my stepfather seemed genuinely frightened of me.
Not because I was powerful.
Because I was holding something he'd spent years trying to hide.
My mother reached for my hand.
"Maya, please."
I stepped away.
"Don't."
Her expression crumpled.
I looked down at the document.
It was a financial summary attached to an old custody agreement.
The account had been established in my name.
Arthur Bennett was listed as the person who funded it.
A separate column showed withdrawals.
Large withdrawals.
Repeated over several years.
And beside them was a name I knew too well.
Marcus Reed.
I stared at him.
"What is this money?"
He crossed his arms.
"That's family business."
I shook my head.
"My name is on it."
He looked toward Arthur.
"This is your fault."
Arthur remained calm.
"Marcus, leave her alone."
My stepfather laughed.
"You think showing up with flowers makes you a father?"
Arthur's jaw tightened.
"I've never claimed flowers could replace eighteen years."
His voice broke.
"But I wasn't allowed to give her anything else."
My heart ached.
I looked at the receipts again.
Some were dated when I was five.
Others when I was nine.
One payment had been made only four months earlier.
My hands began trembling.
"Did Dad send this money for me?"
Diane covered her face.
Marcus answered first.
"He owed it."
I looked at him.
"For what?"
"For leaving your mother to raise you."
Arthur took a step forward.
"I didn't leave her."
Marcus sneered.
"That's your version."
I turned toward Dad.
"Tell me what happened."
He looked around the courtyard.
The principal was approaching.
Graduates had stopped moving toward the stage.
Arthur swallowed.
"Not like this, sweetheart."
I felt anger rising.
"Please don't hide anything else from me."
His expression changed.
He nodded slowly.
"Your mother and I separated when you were a baby."
I listened.
"We disagreed about where to live. But I wanted to remain involved."
Diane began crying harder.
Arthur continued.
"I paid support. I requested visits. I sent cards."
My throat tightened.
"Then why didn't you come?"
He looked at Marcus.
"Because every arrangement I tried to make was blocked or changed."
Marcus laughed.
"That's a lie."
Arthur didn't raise his voice.
"The documents will speak for themselves."
The principal stepped between us.
"Everyone, please. We need to continue the ceremony."
I looked at her.
"I'm sorry, Dr. Harris."
Her expression softened.
"Maya, you're our valedictorian. We need you onstage in ten minutes."
My heart dropped.
My speech.
I'd practiced it for weeks.
I was supposed to speak about perseverance and gratitude.
I had planned to thank Mom and Marcus.
The same people standing in front of me.
The same people who had lied about my father.
I felt sick.
Dr. Harris leaned closer.
"Would you like a quiet room?"
I nodded.
"Yes, please."
She guided us toward a side entrance.
Arthur followed.
Marcus tried to come too.
I turned.
"No."
He stopped.
"I'm your stepfather."
"I know."
I swallowed.
"But I don't want you near me right now."
His face darkened.
Diane whispered my name.
I looked at her.
"I need space from both of you."
She began crying.
I walked away before she could answer.
Inside the school library, I sat beside Arthur.
The room was quiet.
Sunlight streamed through tall windows.
I looked at the damaged bouquet resting on the table.
A few roses had lost their petals.
The ribbon was dirty.
But he had picked up every flower.
My eyes filled.
"You bought those for me?"
He nodded.
"Your favorite colors."
I smiled sadly.
"How did you know?"
Arthur looked toward the window.
"Your grandmother told me."
I froze.
"Grandma Ruth?"
He nodded.
"Before she died, she sent me pictures of you."
My throat tightened.
Grandma Ruth had passed away two years earlier.
She was my mother's mother.
The only adult who sometimes challenged Marcus.
She used to whisper that someday I'd understand certain things.
I always thought she meant growing up.
Now I wondered what else she'd known.
Arthur reached into his jacket.
He removed a small photograph.
It showed me at six years old, wearing a yellow birthday dress.
I recognized the picture.
Grandma Ruth had taken it.
On the back, she'd written:
Maya's sixth birthday. She still asks about you.
I began crying.
Arthur looked devastated.
"I wanted to be there."
I wiped my face.
"Why didn't you fight harder?"
The question escaped before I could stop it.
Arthur lowered his head.
"I did fight."
His voice cracked.
"But I also made mistakes."
I looked at him.
He continued.
"I couldn't afford the kind of legal representation your mother and Marcus had."
I swallowed.
"I worked out of state sometimes. I missed a hearing. I trusted promises that weren't kept."
He looked directly at me.
"And after a while, every attempt seemed to make your home life harder."
My chest tightened.
"What do you mean?"
Arthur's eyes filled.
"Your mother told me you became upset whenever I contacted her."
I stared at him.
"She said I cried?"
He nodded.
"She said you wanted me to stop."
I shook my head.
"I never said that."
His face crumpled.
"I know that now."
I began crying harder.
For years, I'd asked why Dad didn't love me.
Meanwhile, he'd been told I didn't want him.
Arthur reached across the table.
"Can I hold your hand?"
I nodded.
His fingers closed gently around mine.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there, Maya."
I swallowed.
"I know."
Then I asked, "Did you ever stop loving me?"
He shook his head immediately.
"Not for one day."
I closed my eyes.
For the first time, I felt like a missing piece of my life had returned.
Then Dr. Harris knocked.
"Maya, the ceremony is resuming."
I stood.
Arthur looked toward the door.
"I can wait here."
I turned.
"No."
He seemed surprised.
I picked up the bouquet.
"You're coming with me."
His eyes filled.
"Sweetheart—"
"You came to see me graduate."
I smiled through tears.
"Then you're going to see it."
We walked toward the auditorium together.
But just before we reached the entrance, my phone buzzed.
A message from Marcus.
If you embarrass us during your speech, don't bother coming home.
I stopped.
Arthur noticed.
"What happened?"
I showed him.
His expression changed.
Then he asked quietly, "Maya, do you feel safe going back there?"
I stared at the message.
For the first time, I wasn't sure.
May you like
And suddenly, graduation wasn't the only thing I had to think about.
I needed somewhere to go when the ceremony ended.
