Chapter 3 - THE CHILD INSIDEVivian appeared at the top of the staircase.
She wore a dark burgundy robe.
Her long blonde hair fell over one shoulder.
She held a small handbag and a passport wallet.
When she saw the open suitcase, she stopped.
When she saw Lily in my arms, every trace of color left her face.
“Daniel.”
I stood with my daughter pressed against me.
“What did you do?”
Vivian looked toward the front doors.
“You weren’t supposed to be home.”
“That is your answer?”
“No.”
She descended one step.
Lily buried her face against my shoulder.
I moved backward.
“Stay there.”
Vivian stopped.
The command surprised her.
During our marriage, I had rarely spoken sharply.
I believed calm conversation solved most family problems.
That belief ended beside the open suitcase.
“It isn’t what it looks like,” she said.
“It looks like my six-year-old daughter was locked inside luggage.”
“She climbed in.”
“Lily says you closed it.”
“She misunderstood the game.”
“You locked both latches.”
“I didn’t know they would engage.”
“You used a key.”
Vivian’s eyes moved toward the key ring on the floor.
Another mistake.
She knew exactly where it was.
Lily whispered against my shoulder.
“She told me not to make noise.”
Vivian’s expression hardened.
“Lily, that is not true.”
My daughter trembled.
“Do not speak to her.”
“Daniel, you are frightening her.”
“You put her in a suitcase.”
“We were leaving.”
“Where?”
Vivian opened her mouth.
Then stopped.
I looked toward the small travel bag.
Something white protruded from an exterior pocket.
I carried Lily toward the entrance bench and sat her beside me without releasing her hand.
Then I pulled out the paper.
A plane ticket.
LILY MERCER.
One-way.
Private connecting service from Connecticut to Geneva, Switzerland.
Departure that evening.
A second ticket carried Vivian’s name.
No ticket for me.
I held the document up.
“Where were you planning to take my daughter?”
Vivian’s eyes became wet.
“Our daughter.”
“No.”
The word came before I considered its cruelty.
Vivian flinched.
But legal and emotional truth mattered.
“You are her stepmother. You do not have permission to take her out of the country.”
“She needs protection.”
“From whom?”
May you like
Vivian looked directly at me.
“From you.”
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