Chapter 3
I arrived at my mother's house at nine the next morning.
Daniel was already waiting outside.
He looked worried.
I parked beside his car and stepped out.
"Where's Vanessa?"
He shook his head.
"Don't know."
I looked toward the large brick house.
Our father had bought it forty years earlier.
He'd worked two jobs to pay the mortgage.
After he died, Mom refused to sell.
"This is where I raised my children," she always said.
But lately, the house felt different.
The curtains were always closed.
The garden looked neglected.
And Mom rarely invited anyone inside without checking with Vanessa first.
Daniel noticed me staring.
"What are you thinking?"
I took a breath.
"That we've been missing something."
He nodded.
Then we walked to the front door.
I rang the bell.
No answer.
I knocked.
"Mom?"
Finally, I heard slow footsteps.
The door opened.
My mother stood there wearing a pale blue cardigan.
Her gray curls were neatly brushed.
But she looked exhausted.
"Marcus."
I hugged her.
She held me longer than usual.
Then she reached for Daniel.
"My boys."
He kissed her cheek.
We stepped inside.
The house smelled faintly of cleaning products.
I noticed several boxes stacked near the hallway.
"What are those?" I asked.
Mom looked away.
"Vanessa's reorganizing."
I frowned.
"Reorganizing what?"
"The house."
Daniel looked at me.
I felt my stomach tighten.
We followed Mom into the living room.
She sat carefully on the sofa.
I sat beside her.
"Mom, are you okay?"
She nodded too quickly.
"Of course."
I took her hand.
"Then tell me why you sounded frightened yesterday."
Her eyes filled.
"Marcus, I don't want trouble."
I felt a painful ache.
"Mom, you're not causing trouble."
She looked toward the staircase.
Then whispered, "Vanessa gets upset when I question her."
My stomach tightened.
"Question her about what?"
Mom swallowed.
"The bills."
Daniel leaned forward.
"What bills?"
She looked down.
"She says everything costs more now."
I frowned.
"That's true, but—"
"She asked me to sign some papers."
I stopped breathing.
"What papers?"
Mom shook her head.
"I don't understand them."
I felt cold.
"Did you sign?"
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
My heart began pounding.
"When?"
"Last month."
Daniel looked alarmed.
"Mom, what did Vanessa tell you they were?"
"She said they would help manage my finances."
I stared at her.
Our mother owned her home outright.
She had retirement savings.
A pension.
And a small investment account Dad had established years earlier.
She'd always managed her money carefully.
Why would she suddenly need Vanessa controlling everything?
"Where are the papers?" I asked.
Mom looked toward the hallway.
"In Vanessa's office."
I stood.
"Let's look."
Mom immediately grabbed my wrist.
"No."
I froze.
She was trembling.
"Mom?"
Her eyes filled.
"Please don't make her angry."
Those words broke something inside me.
I knelt beside her.
"Mom, look at me."
She slowly raised her eyes.
"You're safe."
She began crying.
I held her hands.
"No one gets to frighten you in your own home."
Daniel sat beside us.
"Mom, we're here."
She started sobbing.
For several minutes, we simply held her.
Then she whispered, "I think I made a terrible mistake."
My heart tightened.
"What mistake?"
She looked toward the staircase again.
"I gave Vanessa the key to Danielle's box."
I stopped breathing.
Daniel stared at her.
"Mom?"
She wiped her eyes.
"Danielle brought it here before she died."
My chest tightened.
"When?"
"A few weeks before she went into the hospital."
I felt sick.
Danielle had been battling a serious illness.
We'd spent months going from appointment to appointment.
I'd been exhausted.
Terrified.
Focused on keeping her comfortable.
I hadn't noticed when she'd brought the box here.
Mom continued.
"She asked me to keep it safe."
I swallowed.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Her lips trembled.
"She wanted me to give it to Lily when she turned eighteen."
I stared at her.
"What's inside?"
Mom shook her head.
"I don't know."
Daniel looked toward the hallway.
"Then why did Vanessa take it?"
Mom began crying harder.
"She said she needed to review Danielle's estate documents."
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
Vanessa had always been interested in money.
She liked expensive clothes.
Designer handbags.
Luxury vacations.
But I'd never imagined she'd try to take something belonging to my dead wife.
I stood.
"Where's the box now?"
Mom whispered, "Upstairs."
I looked at Daniel.
He nodded.
We walked toward the staircase.
Mom followed slowly.
Halfway up, we heard the front door open.
Then Vanessa's voice echoed through the house.
"Mom? I'm home!"
My stomach tightened.
She entered carrying shopping bags.
Her magenta suit had been replaced by a cream blouse and expensive trousers.
When she saw us, she stopped.
Her smile vanished.
"Marcus?"
I turned.
"Vanessa."
She looked at Daniel.
Then Mom.
"What are you doing here?"
I took a breath.
"Visiting our mother."
She folded her arms.
"Without telling me?"
Daniel frowned.
"Since when do we need permission?"
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Mom needs rest."
I stared at her.
"Then why does she look terrified?"
She laughed nervously.
"Don't be ridiculous."
I stepped closer.
"Where's Danielle's blue box?"
Vanessa went completely still.
For one second, I saw genuine fear.
Then she smiled.
"What box?"
I looked directly into her eyes.
"The one my wife left for Lily."
She swallowed.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
I took out my phone.
Then showed her a photograph.
The old blue box.
The butterfly Danielle had painted.
Vanessa's expression changed.
I watched her eyes move toward the upstairs hallway.
And I knew she recognized it.
"Vanessa," I said quietly, "don't lie to me."
She folded her arms.
"Marcus, you're being dramatic."
I felt anger rise.
But I kept my voice calm.
"Mom says Danielle gave her that box."
Vanessa looked toward our mother.
Her face darkened.
"Mom, why are you telling him private things?"
I stepped between them.
"Don't."
Vanessa stared at me.
"Excuse me?"
"Don't intimidate her."
She laughed sharply.
"Now I'm intimidating people?"
Daniel stepped beside me.
"Vanessa, just tell us where the box is."
She looked trapped.
Then suddenly, her expression changed.
She smiled.
"Fine."
My stomach tightened.
"You want the box?"
I nodded.
She reached into her purse.
Pulled out a small key.
Then held it up.
"Come get it."
I stared at the key.
But before I could move, Vanessa dropped it into her handbag.
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Just remember, Marcus. Danielle didn't leave that box for you."
I froze.
"What does that mean?"
Vanessa smiled coldly.
"Maybe your perfect wife had secrets."
I stared at her.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then she turned and walked toward her office.
And I realized Vanessa wasn't simply hiding the box.
She was using whatever was inside to frighten me.
May you like
But I wasn't going to let her use Danielle's memory against our daughter.
Not anymore.
