Chapter 3 - RICHARD BLOCKS THE FRONT DOORHe waited at the bottom of the stairs.
Vanessa behind him.
Olivia had changed into another dress because frosting had destroyed the first.
Priorities.
Richard looked at the suitcases.
Then laughed.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“Put them back.”
“No.”
Lily squeezed my hand.
Richard noticed.
His voice softened.
For her.
“Sweetheart, Mommy’s upset.”
I said:
“Do not use her.”
He looked at me.
“There. That attitude.”
Olivia stepped forward.
“This is Lily’s birthday.”
“You should have remembered that before Richard put her mother into the cake.”
Olivia’s mouth hardened.
“You kicked me.”
“Yes.”
One mistake.
Mine.
I would not pretend otherwise.
Richard spread his arms across the foyer.
“You’re not taking my daughter.”
“Our daughter.”
“You have no money.”
I looked at him.
“Move.”
“No.”
My pulse climbed.
Then a voice came from behind him.
“Richard.”
Julian.
He had entered through the still-open patio door.
Richard turned.
“What?”
Julian’s expression remained calm.
“Let them leave.”
“This is family.”
“Then behave like it.”
Richard stared.
Julian did not raise his voice.
Maybe that was why Richard moved.
Not far.
Enough.
I walked past.
As I crossed the threshold, Julian looked at the silver chain where it had slipped above my collar.
His eyes stopped.
Then moved to my face.
“Maya?”
I froze.
Not because he knew my first name.
Everyone did.
Because of how he said it.
Like he was trying to remember something much older.
I covered the ring with my hand.
May you like
“Thank you.”
Then I left.
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