Chapter 11 - The Child She Planned to Leave
I didn’t sleep.
By morning, the police had released Simone pending further investigation.
Darius stayed in custody.
Simone came to my sister’s house with an attorney.
She wanted Caleb and Zoe.
I wanted answers.
Her lawyer said, “This is not the time.”
I said, “Then there won’t be a time.”
Caleb heard voices and came downstairs.
When he saw Simone, his face changed.
“Are we leaving?”
Simone opened her arms.
“Yes, baby.”
He didn’t move.
Zoe came behind him.
She didn’t move either.
Simone’s smile cracked.
“Come on.”
Caleb asked, “What about Maya?”
Simone glanced toward my daughter.
“Maya stays with her father.”
Zoe frowned. “Why?”
“Because that’s where she belongs.”
Maya’s face went blank.
I understood exactly what Darius meant.
Simone had built an escape plan that treated my daughter like luggage she didn’t want to pack.
Caleb’s chin trembled.
“I’m not going without her.”
Simone stared at him.
“She’s not your sister.”
Maya flinched.
Caleb said, “Yes, she is.”
Nobody spoke.
Then Zoe ran to Maya and wrapped both arms around her waist.
Maya looked stunned.
She hugged her back.
Simone’s attorney quietly said, “We should leave.”
Simone ignored him.
She looked at me.
“You turned my children against me.”
“No.”
“You poisoned them.”
“I didn’t have to.”
Her eyes filled with rage.
“You think you’re some hero because you buy shoes and show up at the end?”
That hit because part of it was true.
I had worked too much.
Trusted too easily.
Delegated parenting to someone who had earned my trust as a wife but not as a protector.
I stepped closer.
“I failed Maya by not seeing it sooner. That’s on me.”
Simone looked surprised.
“But what you did is on you.”
Her attorney touched her arm.
She jerked away.
Then she looked at Maya.
“I did everything for this family.”
Maya asked, “Why did you hate me?”
Simone’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
For the first time, my daughter had asked the real question.
Not about shoes.
Not money.
Not the necklace.
Why me?
Simone finally whispered, “I didn’t hate you.”
“Then why was I always the one who had to lose something?”
Simone looked at the floor.
Maya waited.
So did I.
Then Simone said, “Because your father would always replace it.”
My stomach turned.
She had seen Maya as the safest person to steal from because I would eventually repair the damage.
She used my love for my daughter as insurance for her cruelty.
Then her attorney’s phone rang.
He answered, listened, and went pale.
He covered the receiver.
“Simone, we need to go now.”
“What happened?”
He looked at me.
“The lender found another application.”
My pulse jumped.
“What application?”
He swallowed.
“A mortgage against the Carter house.”
Our house was paid off.
May you like
I stared at Simone.
Her face told me she already knew.
