Chapter 4
For the first week after Vanessa left, our house sounded different.
Dad made breakfast while answering work calls. Caleb forgot his soccer uniform twice. Ava asked whether her mother would come home before her birthday. I didn’t know what to tell her.
Dad told his office he could not travel for a while. I heard him speaking firmly from the kitchen.
“I have three children here,” he said. “Send me what I need to do from home.”
He hung up and found me standing in the doorway.
“You don’t have to change your job because of me.”
“I’m changing my schedule because I need to be here.”
“Vanessa used to be here.”
He leaned against the counter. “I know.”
I almost walked away. Instead, I asked, “Did you notice I stopped asking you to come to school things?”
His face fell.
“I thought you were getting older,” he said. “I thought maybe you didn’t want me at every event.”
“I stopped asking because Vanessa said you were busy.”
“I’m sorry I let that answer be enough.”
It was hard to hear him apologize. It was harder to admit how long I had waited for him to ask.
At school, Ms. Harris gave me a new science notebook.
“Dr. Ellis asked whether you could send an update on your creek project,” she said. “The program students usually share what they’re working on before they arrive.”
“Even though I might not go?”
“She said you’re a selected scholar. She’d like to see it either way.”
I took the notebook home and began listing the places I wanted to test along the creek. Dad offered to drive me on Saturday. Ava wanted to help label bottles. Caleb volunteered to take photographs.
For two hours, we worked together along the bank. The water was shallow where we stood. Dad held Ava’s hand as she stepped across stones, and Caleb took pictures of every place I marked.
When we got home, there was a message from Vanessa on Dad’s phone.
I want to see the children Sunday. All three of them.
Dad played it while we were in the kitchen.
Ava said yes at once. Caleb said he would go if Ava wanted him there. They both looked at me.
“I don’t know,” I said.
Dad nodded. “You can decide tomorrow. You don’t owe anyone an answer tonight.”
On Sunday, I chose to go. We met Vanessa at a café with Dad sitting at a nearby table. Ava ran to hug her. Caleb hugged her too.
Vanessa asked about their week. She listened to Ava’s story about the creek and asked Caleb about soccer. Then she turned to me.
“Are you still waiting on the program?”
“Yes.”
“I called the office,” she said.
My hands went cold. “Why?”
“I wanted to understand their rules.”
Dad was beside us before she finished speaking. “What did you tell them?”
“I didn’t speak to anyone. I left a message asking them to call me.”
“We agreed you wouldn’t contact them,” he said.
Vanessa’s eyes flashed. “I’m allowed to ask questions about a place my stepdaughter might spend the summer.”
Dad sat down. “Nia’s application is being handled by Nia, me, and her teacher.”
Ava looked between them. I hated seeing her shoulders tighten.
“Can we please just have lunch?” I asked.
Vanessa pressed her lips together. Dad returned to his table.
I did my best to eat, but every time Vanessa’s phone lit up, I wondered who might be calling.
At home, Dad contacted Dr. Ellis. She confirmed that Vanessa had left a message, and no one had returned it. Dad explained the family situation and asked the office to call him or Ms. Harris about my place.
I stood beside him for the call.
When he finished, he said, “I should have set that boundary sooner.”
I went to my room and opened the new notebook. I wanted to finish the project update before anyone else could decide I wasn’t ready for it.
That night, I heard Caleb and Dad talking in the hall.
“Mom’s angry at me,” Caleb said.
“She’ll have to speak to you about that herself,” Dad answered. “You told us about a letter Nia needed. You did the right thing.”
“I could’ve said it sooner.”
“You were afraid. I’m the adult who should have noticed.”
I sat on my bed with the notebook open, listening until their footsteps moved away.
The next morning, Ms. Harris helped me email Dr. Ellis my results and photographs. I wrote the message myself. At the end, I told her I hoped there would be a place for me.
May you like
Her reply arrived before the final bell.
I hope so too, Nia. Keep doing the work you love.
