Chapter 2 - Twenty-Seven Minutes of SecretsGrant carried Rose into the adjoining sitting room.
He did not want her hearing more.
Rose resisted.
“I want to stay with you.”
“You are staying with me.”
“You’re listening to Mommy.”
Grant hesitated.
Vanessa stood several feet away.
“Stop calling me that.”
Rose flinched.
Grant turned sharply.
“Enough.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“See? This is exactly what I mean.”
Grant stepped closer.
“What do you mean?”
“She acts like I’m her mother.”
“You encouraged that.”
“I tolerated it.”
Grant stared.
“You bought her a necklace last Christmas that said ‘Mommy’s Little Girl.’”
“Because you loved it.”
“You signed birthday cards ‘Love, Mommy Vanessa.’”
“Because your family expected it.”
“You tucked her into bed.”
“I was trying.”
“No.”
Grant’s voice dropped.
“You were performing.”
Vanessa looked away.
That silence answered more than words could.
Grant’s attorney, Michael Reed, entered with Daniel.
Michael took one look at Rose’s swollen eyes and Vanessa’s face.
“What happened?”
Grant handed him the phone.
“Rose accidentally recorded Vanessa.”
Michael frowned.
“How much?”
“Almost half an hour.”
“Do you know what’s on it?”
“Not yet.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“That is my private conversation.”
Michael looked at her.
“In whose phone?”
“Rose’s.”
Grant frowned.
The phone had originally belonged to Rose’s late mother, Emma.
After Emma died, Grant kept it disconnected from cellular service.
Rose sometimes used it to take photographs.
Vanessa knew that.
Michael asked, “Was this recording made in the bridal suite?”
“Yes,” Grant said.
Vanessa snapped, “Without my permission.”
Michael looked around.
“We can discuss legal questions later.”
Grant nodded.
“I just want to know what she was planning.”
Vanessa’s face tightened.
Michael said, “Then Rose should not be here.”
Grant crouched.
“Baby, can you go with Uncle Daniel?”
Rose immediately shook her head.
“No.”
Daniel smiled gently.
“We can go find cake.”
“No.”
“Before dinner?”
Rose considered it.
Grant almost smiled.
Then she wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Daddy, don’t marry her.”
The room went silent.
Grant closed his eyes.
“I won’t.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Only then did Rose agree to leave.
At the doorway, she looked back at Vanessa.
For one painful second, she seemed to expect Vanessa to call her back.
Vanessa did nothing.
Daniel closed the door.
Grant pressed play.
The recording began several minutes before Rose entered the room.
Vanessa was alone initially.
A man came in.
His footsteps were heavy.
Vanessa said, “You shouldn’t be here.”
The man answered.
“You weren’t replying.”
Grant looked at Michael.
“Know the voice?”
Michael shook his head.
The man continued.
“We need the signature today.”
Vanessa said, “He’ll sign after the ceremony.”
“You’re sure?”
“He trusts me.”
Grant’s stomach tightened.
“What signature?” Michael asked.
Grant shook his head.
The recording continued.
Vanessa said, “Grant thinks it’s just the updated family estate documents.”
Michael looked sharply at Grant.
“Were you scheduled to sign anything today?”
Grant thought.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“After the reception.”
“What?”
“An amendment Michael—”
He stopped.
“You didn’t prepare it.”
“No.”
Grant’s pulse increased.
Vanessa’s recorded voice continued.
“Once the paperwork is done, it doesn’t matter what happens between us.”
The man laughed.
“What about the kid?”
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“That part is easy.”
Grant’s hands tightened around the phone.
“She already thinks I’m her mother.”
He went still.
Vanessa continued.
“Children believe whatever makes them feel loved.”
Grant looked toward the closed door Rose had just walked through.
Something inside him cracked.
The man asked, “And Grant?”
“He believes whatever makes him feel like he’s protecting her.”
A pause.
“Turn them against each other.”
Vanessa replied.
“That’s the plan.”
Grant stopped the recording.
Michael stared at him.
“Grant.”
He could barely speak.
“She wasn’t just trying to get rid of Rose.”
“No.”
“She was going to make Rose think I didn’t want her.”
Vanessa suddenly said, “That is not what I meant.”
Grant turned.
She had remained perfectly still while listening to her own voice.
“You want to explain what you meant?”
Vanessa swallowed.
“The conversation was exaggerated.”
“With whom?”
She said nothing.
Grant hit play again.
The man spoke.
“The therapist is ready.”
Grant paused it immediately.
“What therapist?”
Vanessa’s face changed.
Michael noticed too.
He stepped forward.
“Vanessa.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Grant stared.
“What therapist?”
No answer.
Then Grant remembered something.
Three weeks earlier, Vanessa had suggested Rose begin seeing a child psychologist.
She claimed the wedding might bring up grief about Emma.
Grant had thought it was thoughtful.
Caring.
Responsible.
His stomach turned.
“You chose Dr. Keller.”
Vanessa’s lips parted.
Grant whispered, “Didn’t you?”
She said nothing.
Michael reached for his phone.
“Who is Dr. Keller?”
May you like
Grant answered without taking his eyes off Vanessa.
“The woman who has been treating my daughter.”
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