Chapter 2
Dad didn't watch the memory card immediately.
That surprised me.
I thought he would rush inside, put it into his computer, and finally discover everything Vanessa had done.
Instead, he picked me up.
Not because I couldn't walk.
Because my legs were shaking so badly that I could barely stand.
He carried me into the living room.
Then placed me gently on the couch.
"First, I need to know you're safe."
I looked at him.
"But the card—"
"We'll check it, sweetheart."
His voice was calm.
"But nobody's touching that fire again."
I nodded.
Vanessa followed us inside.
Tasha stayed near the patio doors.
Neither of them spoke.
Dad brought me water.
Then he sat beside me.
"Tell me what happened today."
I stared at my hands.
I wanted to answer.
But every time I opened my mouth, I remembered Vanessa telling me my mother wasn't here anymore.
My eyes filled with tears.
Dad noticed.
He took my hand.
"Did she say something else?"
I nodded.
"What?"
My voice came out tiny.
"She said Mommy was gone, so I shouldn't care about her things."
Dad closed his eyes.
For a moment, his face looked different.
Not angry.
Heartbroken.
He pulled me against his chest.
"Oh, Maya."
I began sobbing again.
"I tried to save it."
He stroked my braids.
"I know."
"I promised Mommy I'd keep it."
His voice broke.
"Sweetheart, you didn't break that promise."
I shook my head.
"It's gone."
He held me tighter.
"The camera was a gift."
I nodded.
"But your mother loved you more than anything she could ever give you."
I cried against his shoulder.
For several minutes, he let me.
Then Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
"Marcus, we need to discuss this privately."
Dad looked up.
"Not yet."
She folded her arms.
"You're going to believe everything a ten-year-old says?"
He stared at her.
"I'm going to listen to my daughter."
Vanessa's cheeks reddened.
"She's been difficult for weeks."
I felt my stomach twist.
Dad looked down at me.
"Maya, has something like this happened before?"
I nodded.
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Marcus!"
He held up one hand.
"Stop."
She froze.
Dad turned toward me again.
"Has anyone hurt you?"
I hesitated.
Then shook my head.
"Not like hitting."
His expression tightened.
"What do you mean?"
I stared at my knees.
"Sometimes she grabs my arm."
Vanessa laughed sharply.
"Because she refuses to listen!"
Dad looked toward her.
"Enough."
The room went quiet.
Then he asked me another question.
"Are you afraid when I'm away?"
I wanted to say no.
I wanted him to stop looking so sad.
But I remembered all the nights I'd cried into my pillow.
I nodded.
Dad's face crumpled.
He hugged me again.
"I'm so sorry, baby."
Vanessa scoffed.
"This is ridiculous."
Dad stood slowly.
"Maya, go upstairs and get your favorite blanket."
I hesitated.
"Are you leaving?"
He immediately shook his head.
"No."
"Promise?"
He crouched.
"I'm staying right here."
I nodded.
Then went upstairs.
As I reached the landing, I heard Vanessa speaking.
"You're letting her manipulate you."
Dad's answer was sharp.
"She was crying beside a fire you started."
Vanessa said something I couldn't hear.
Then Dad replied.
"Danielle gave her that camera."
The house went silent.
I stood frozen.
Dad rarely said Mom's name in front of Vanessa.
When he did, Vanessa usually changed the subject.
I held my blanket tightly.
Then returned downstairs.
Dad had moved the damaged memory card into a small protective case.
He placed it beside his laptop.
Vanessa stood behind him.
Tasha hovered near the kitchen.
Dad looked at me.
"Maya, do you want to stay while we check this?"
I nodded immediately.
"Yes."
He smiled gently.
"Okay."
He inserted the card into a reader.
The computer made a small sound.
A folder appeared.
My heart began pounding.
I recognized the name.
MAYA_CAMERA.
Dad opened it.
There were photographs.
Videos.
School pictures.
A recording of my last birthday.
And dozens of files I'd forgotten about.
He scrolled carefully.
Then found the newest recording.
The date was yesterday.
Vanessa leaned forward.
"Marcus, those files could be edited."
Dad didn't answer.
He clicked the video.
The screen showed my bedroom.
The camera had been sitting on my bookshelf.
I remembered leaving it there while it charged.
The recording began with an empty room.
Then Tasha entered.
She walked directly toward my desk.
She opened the drawers.
Then searched beneath my bed.
I felt my hands tighten.
Dad looked at me.
"Did you know she was doing this?"
I shook my head.
On the screen, Vanessa entered the room.
Tasha said something that made Dad sit upright.
"Mom, I found the camera."
Vanessa smiled.
"Good."
Tasha held it up.
"Can I have it now?"
Vanessa looked toward the door.
"Not yet."
Then she said something I'll never forget.
"Your stepfather needs to see Maya as the problem first."
Dad stopped breathing.
He replayed the sentence.
Once.
Twice.
Vanessa rushed forward.
"That's not what I meant!"
Dad closed the laptop halfway.
Then looked at her.
"What exactly did you mean?"
Vanessa began shaking.
Tasha looked toward the hallway.
I held my blanket tighter.
Dad reopened the laptop.
The video continued.
Vanessa picked up a framed photograph of Mom from my dresser.
She stared at it.
Then placed it facedown.
Tasha laughed.
"She's so obsessed with her dead mother."
My eyes filled with tears.
Dad whispered, "Oh, my God."
Then Vanessa answered.
"That's because Marcus keeps letting Danielle control this house from the grave."
The room became completely silent.
Dad stared at the screen.
His eyes filled with tears.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
I looked at him.
"Daddy?"
He turned.
I whispered, "That's why I didn't tell you."
His face crumpled.
I continued.
"She said you would choose her."
Dad pulled me into his arms.
For a long time, he couldn't speak.
Then he whispered, "I should've seen this."
I shook my head.
"I tried to be good."
His voice broke.
"You are good."
I began crying.
Dad looked toward Vanessa.
His expression had changed.
He wasn't shouting.
That frightened her more.
"Vanessa, you and Tasha need to leave the house tonight."
She stared.
"What?"
He held me close.
"My daughter is not spending another night afraid in her own home."
Vanessa stepped backward.
Then she whispered something that made my stomach drop.
"Marcus, if you send me away, there's something about Danielle you'll never find out."
Dad went completely still.
May you like
And I realized the memory card might contain more than evidence of what Vanessa had done to me.
It might also lead us to a secret about my mother.
