Chapter 2
I had never heard silence sound so terrifying.
The woman behind the steering wheel of the yellow SUV suddenly started the engine.
I turned toward her.
"Don't move."
She lowered her window.
"Sir, I don't want any trouble."
I walked toward the vehicle while keeping Noah beside me.
"Who are you?"
She hesitated.
"My name is Patricia."
"Patricia what?"
"Patricia Coleman."
I looked at Vanessa.
"Who is she?"
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"A family friend."
Patricia shook her head immediately.
"No, ma'am. That's not what you told me."
Vanessa's face tightened.
"Patricia, don't."
I stared at the driver.
"What did she tell you?"
Patricia swallowed.
"She said she had authorization to transport the child."
My chest tightened.
"Transport him where?"
Patricia looked toward Noah.
Then she whispered, "A temporary family placement."
I felt sick.
"What does that mean?"
She reached into her handbag.
Vanessa rushed forward.
"Give me that!"
Patricia pulled away.
"Ma'am, you told me his father approved this."
I stared at Vanessa.
My wife opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Patricia handed me a printed form.
Across the top were the words:
EMERGENCY FAMILY CARE AUTHORIZATION.
My name appeared near the bottom.
Marcus Johnson.
The signature looked similar to mine.
But I had never signed it.
I looked at Vanessa.
"Did you forge my signature?"
She laughed nervously.
"It's not what you think."
I held up the document.
"Did you sign my name?"
She looked away.
That was enough.
I took out my phone.
"I'm calling the police."
Vanessa's expression changed immediately.
"Marcus, don't be ridiculous."
I dialed.
Noah began crying again.
I knelt beside him.
"Buddy, you're not going anywhere."
He nodded.
I held his hand while I spoke to the dispatcher.
I explained that someone had attempted to transport my child without my permission and that a document appeared to contain a false signature.
The dispatcher told us officers were being sent.
Patricia parked the SUV and agreed to remain.
Vanessa paced across the driveway.
"This is insane," she muttered.
I ignored her.
My attention remained on Noah.
He was staring at the pink suitcase.
I suddenly realized something.
It wasn't his suitcase.
I'd never seen it before.
"Buddy, who packed your things?"
He whispered, "Vanessa."
"Did she tell you where you were going?"
He nodded.
"What did she say?"
His voice cracked.
"That I was going to stay with a different family until you stopped being angry with me."
I felt tears filling my eyes.
"Angry with you?"
He lowered his head.
"She said you were tired of taking care of me."
My heart shattered.
Noah's mother, Aisha, had died three years earlier.
Before her death, she made me promise that our son would never doubt how much we loved him.
Now he believed I'd arranged to give him away.
I pulled him close.
"Listen to me. I have never wanted you to leave."
He began sobbing.
"She said you signed the paper."
"I didn't."
"She said you were too busy to tell me yourself."
I closed my eyes.
My wife had used my work schedule to make a little boy believe his father didn't want him.
I felt anger burning through me.
But Noah needed calm.
Not another frightening adult.
I kissed his forehead.
"Nothing she said changes how much I love you."
He held me tighter.
A police cruiser arrived minutes later.
Two officers stepped out.
They spoke first with Patricia.
Then with Vanessa.
Then with me.
I provided the document.
One officer studied the signature.
"Sir, you're saying you never authorized this?"
"Correct."
"And you're Noah's legal father?"
"Yes. His mother passed away three years ago."
The officer nodded.
"Do you have identification?"
I retrieved my wallet.
While the officers reviewed the situation, my sister Angela arrived.
I'd called her immediately after contacting police.
She stepped out of her car.
The moment she saw Noah crying, she ran toward him.
"Oh, sweetheart."
Noah reached for her.
"Aunt Angela!"
She hugged him tightly.
I explained what had happened.
Her expression changed from confusion to disbelief.
Then anger.
"Vanessa was sending him away?"
I nodded.
Angela stared at my wife.
"What is wrong with you?"
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Stay out of my marriage."
Angela stepped forward.
"This is about my nephew."
I touched her shoulder.
"Angela, please. Noah needs us calm."
She looked down at him.
Then she nodded.
"You're right."
The officers continued speaking with Patricia.
She explained that Vanessa had contacted her through a private family assistance service.
She believed both parents had approved a short-term placement.
I listened carefully.
The explanation raised more questions than answers.
Why would a legitimate placement service accept paperwork without confirming directly with me?
Who had prepared the form?
Where exactly was Noah supposed to go?
And why had Vanessa arranged everything while I was at work?
One officer approached.
"Mr. Johnson, we've documented the circumstances. The signature issue and attempted transport will require further investigation."
I nodded.
"What happens now?"
"We recommend that you preserve all messages and paperwork. We'll also need to identify the organization involved."
I agreed.
The officer looked toward Noah.
"For now, your child remains with you."
I felt my shoulders relax.
But only slightly.
Because I still didn't understand what Vanessa had been planning.
After the officers left, Patricia drove away without Noah.
She apologized repeatedly.
I told her investigators might need to speak with her again.
Then I turned toward Vanessa.
She stood beside the pink suitcase.
Her face was pale.
"Marcus, can we talk privately?"
I looked at her.
"Through our attorneys."
She stared at me.
"You're really ending our marriage?"
I looked toward Noah.
He was sitting in Angela's car, drinking water.
His face was still swollen from crying.
"Yes."
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"You'll regret humiliating me."
I shook my head.
"I regret not protecting him sooner."
She stepped closer.
"You have no idea what that boy has been doing behind your back."
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What are you talking about?"
She smiled coldly.
"Ask him about the pictures."
Then she picked up her handbag.
I watched her walk toward the house.
And suddenly, I realized the pink suitcase might not be the only thing she'd prepared.
That evening, after Vanessa had left to stay with her sister, I sat beside Noah on his bed.
I gently asked whether he wanted to tell me about the pictures.
His face went pale.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"She told me you'd be mad."
I touched his shoulder.
"You can tell me anything."
He swallowed.
Then he reached beneath his mattress.
He pulled out a small yellow envelope.
Inside were photographs.
I opened the first one.
And my blood ran cold.
It showed Noah standing outside a strange house.
Beside him was a woman I'd never seen before.
May you like
Written across the back were four words.
MEET YOUR NEW MOM.
