Chapter 2 - THE FIRST LIECaroline Prescott arrived twenty-three minutes later.
Ethan arrived six minutes after that.
Miles knew because he watched the grandfather clock while sitting in the library with Vivian.
Lila sat in Vivian’s lap.
Marissa waited in the dining room.
Vivian had deliberately separated everyone.
Miles did not know whether that was good.
He only knew nobody had told him they believed him.
Caroline rushed into the library.
“What happened?”
She crossed immediately to Lila.
“My baby.”
Lila reached toward her mother.
Caroline lifted her.
Then she looked at Miles.
“Are you okay?”
Miles nodded.
“Marissa was hurting Lila.”
Caroline’s eyebrows drew together.
Vivian spoke.
“We will hear everybody.”
Caroline looked at her mother-in-law.
“What does that mean?”
“It means exactly what I said.”
Ethan entered.
Still wearing his charcoal business suit.
“Miles?”
Marissa appeared behind him with reddened eyes.
She had apparently used the waiting time well.
Caroline stiffened at the sight of her.
Vivian gestured toward the sitting area.
“Sit.”
Everyone did.
Marissa spoke first.
Of course she did.
“I’m so sorry this happened.”
Miles stared at her.
She continued.
“Lila was overtired. She didn’t want lunch.”
“You were forcing her!”
“Miles.”
Ethan’s voice was firm.
“Let her finish.”
Miles closed his mouth.
Marissa’s eyes glistened.
“I was trying to get Lila to eat a few bites. Miles came in already upset.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“Miles.”
This time Caroline.
Not angry.
But enough.
Marissa lowered her gaze.
“He yelled. I asked him to calm down. Then he pushed me.”
“Because you were holding her head!”
Marissa touched her chest as if deeply hurt.
“I was supporting Lila because she was throwing herself backward.”
“That’s a lie.”
Caroline looked at Miles.
“Sweetheart, did you push Marissa?”
Miles hesitated.
There it was again.
The question that made everything harder.
“Yes.”
Caroline inhaled.
“But—”
“Miles, you cannot push people.”
“She wouldn’t stop!”
“I understand you were upset.”
“No, you don’t!”
Caroline flinched.
Ethan leaned forward.
“Watch your tone.”
Miles stared at his father.
Marissa’s face remained carefully sad.
Vivian said nothing.
Miles looked around the room.
“My sister was crying.”
Caroline held Lila closer.
“I know.”
“She was scared.”
Marissa shook her head.
“She was having a tantrum.”
“No!”
Miles stood.
“She only cries like that when she’s scared.”
Ethan pointed toward the chair.
“Sit down.”
Miles did.
His face burned.
Marissa spoke softly.
“I love these children.”
Miles almost laughed.
She continued.
“I’ve been with Lila almost every day for nine months. Of course she becomes upset sometimes.”
“That’s not love.”
“Miles!”
Caroline looked genuinely shocked.
Marissa wiped one eye.
“I understand he’s protective.”
Vivian finally spoke.
“How protective?”
Marissa glanced at her.
“Excuse me?”
“You said he has been difficult for weeks.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Marissa hesitated only briefly.
“He follows me when I care for Lila.”
Miles looked at Vivian.
“I stay with her.”
“Why?” Vivian asked.
“Because I don’t like leaving her alone with Marissa.”
Caroline frowned.
“You’ve never said that.”
Miles stared at her.
“I have.”
The room went quiet.
Caroline blinked.
“When?”
“Last month.”
“I thought you meant Lila missed you.”
“And before your anniversary dinner.”
Caroline searched her memory.
Miles had asked if he could stay home.
She had told him the sitter was unnecessary because Marissa was there.
He had looked upset.
She had assumed he wanted attention.
Miles continued.
“And when Dad went to Chicago.”
Ethan looked confused.
“You told me you didn’t want to go to soccer practice.”
“Because Lila was home.”
Marissa sighed.
“This is what I’ve been concerned about.”
Miles whipped toward her.
“What?”
“His attachment.”
Caroline looked at Marissa.
“What do you mean?”
“He becomes possessive.”
Miles stared in disbelief.
“I do not!”
“He gets angry when Lila responds to other caregivers.”
“That’s crazy!”
“Miles,” Ethan warned.
Marissa lowered her voice.
“I didn’t want to worry you.”
Vivian’s eyes sharpened.
“You didn’t?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Yet you believed a ten-year-old was showing concerning behavior around a two-year-old.”
Marissa’s confidence flickered.
“I thought it would pass.”
Vivian studied her.
Then looked at Lila.
The toddler had stopped crying.
She rested against Caroline’s chest.
Marissa took one small step closer.
“May I get her bottle?”
Lila’s body went rigid.
Her eyes widened.
Then she screamed.
Not whining.
Not fussing.
Screamed.
Caroline instinctively stepped backward.
Lila buried her face against her mother.
“Mama! No! No!”
Everyone froze.
Marissa stopped moving.
Miles stared at his parents.
“That.”
His voice cracked.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
Vivian looked at Marissa.
This time, there was something different in her eyes.
Not judgment.
Not yet.
May you like
Calculation.
And Marissa saw it.
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