Chapter 4
Emma's chair scraped backward.
“You're all lying.”
“Emma—”
“No!”
She stood so quickly the table shook.
“Every time I ask one question, there's another secret.”
Jason reached toward her.
“Sweetheart—”
She jerked away.
“You too.”
His hand stopped.
Emma looked at him.
“You said Daniel just paid you to leave.”
“He did.”
“Then why were you filming my daycare?”
Jason's jaw tightened.
“I told you. I was trying to prove—”
“You were hiding outside my daycare.”
“You don't understand what things were like back then.”
“Then explain them!”
People were staring again.
Jason lowered his voice.
“Your mother had shut me out.”
I felt anger flash through me.
“I had not.”
“She changed the locks.”
“After you disappeared with my money.”
“I borrowed that money.”
“You stole twenty-two thousand dollars.”
“I was going to pay it back.”
“When?”
Daniel said nothing.
He was watching Jason.
Carefully.
Jason leaned forward.
“Rachel, you're pretending you were innocent in all this.”
My stomach tightened.
“What exactly did I do?”
“You told everyone I was an addict.”
“You were.”
“I had a problem.”
“You were taking pills every day.”
“I got help.”
“Not then.”
Emma covered her face.
“Stop.”
I stopped immediately.
Jason didn't.
“Your mother wanted me gone long before Daniel appeared.”
“That's enough,” I said.
“No, it isn't.”
Jason's voice became colder.
“She wants Emma to think this was all my fault.”
“You left.”
“Because you told me I'd never see my daughter again.”
I stared at him.
“I never said that.”
“Yes, you did.”
“No.”
“You said you'd get full custody.”
“Because you came home high while our three-year-old was in the house.”
Emma looked at me.
That part I'd never told her.
She lowered her hands.
“What happened?”
Jason muttered, “Nothing happened.”
I looked at my daughter.
“You were asleep.”
“Rachel.”
I ignored him.
“Your father came home after midnight. He could barely stand.”
Jason's face darkened.
“Don't.”
“He knocked over a lamp.”
“Stop.”
“You woke up and came into the hallway.”
“Rachel!”
“You started crying.”
Emma stared at Jason.
I forced myself to continue.
“He tried to pick you up.”
Jason pushed away from the table.
“I said stop.”
I looked directly at him.
“And I wouldn't let him.”
Emma whispered, “Did he hurt me?”
“No.”
I answered immediately.
“He never hurt you.”
Jason's shoulders lowered slightly.
“But he scared me.”
I continued.
“He scared me enough that I told him he couldn't be alone with you until he got help.”
Jason sat again.
“You told me you would destroy me.”
“I told you I'd go to court.”
“Same thing.”
“No.”
Daniel suddenly leaned over the table.
“No, Jason. It isn't.”
Jason smirked.
“Here comes Saint Daniel.”
Daniel ignored the insult.
“You had a three-year-old daughter and you were high.”
“I made mistakes.”
“You threatened to take her.”
“I was angry.”
“You filmed her daycare.”
“I was desperate.”
“You demanded money.”
“I was broke.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Everything has an excuse with you.”
Jason's eyes narrowed.
“And everything makes you the hero.”
“I never said I was a hero.”
“You didn't need to.”
Jason leaned back.
“You moved into my family.”
Daniel's voice hardened.
“You walked out of it.”
Jason lunged halfway across the table.
I stood between them.
“Enough!”
The coffee shop manager appeared.
“I'm going to have to ask you folks to keep it down.”
I nodded quickly.
“I'm sorry.”
He walked away reluctantly.
Emma had started crying again.
I hated all of us for doing this to her.
I sat beside her.
“Sweetheart, we need to go home.”
“No.”
“Emma.”
“I want the truth.”
“So do I.”
“Then stop taking me away from it every time it gets ugly.”
That cut deep.
I looked at Jason.
“Who sent that message?”
He glanced at Emma's phone.
“Wasn't me.”
“Who else has these pictures?”
Jason shrugged.
“I don't know.”
Daniel spoke quietly.
“I might.”
We all turned.
He looked at Jason.
“Your mother.”
Jason's expression changed.
“My mother has nothing to do with this.”
Daniel ignored him.
“The first time Jason came back, his mother knew.”
I stared at him.
“You met Margaret?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Before the motel.”
Jason's face hardened.
“Shut up.”
Daniel looked at me.
“She contacted me first.”
My chest tightened.
“Why?”
“She said Jason was back in town and unstable.”
Jason laughed bitterly.
“My own mother called you?”
“She was afraid of you.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Jason's fists tightened.
Daniel continued.
“She gave me the motel address.”
Emma stared at her father.
“Grandma Margaret knew you were here?”
Jason's jaw worked.
“She doesn't know what she's talking about.”
I remembered Margaret.
Jason's mother had adored Emma as a baby.
Then, after Jason vanished, she stopped answering my calls.
Within months, she moved to Kentucky.
I assumed she blamed me.
“Where is she now?” I asked.
Jason's gaze shifted.
“Why?”
“Because someone is sending photographs that appear to come from twelve years ago.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No. The daycare picture was taken nine years ago.”
“Fine. Nine years ago.”
I looked at Jason.
“And according to Daniel, Margaret knew exactly what was happening then.”
Jason stood.
“We're done.”
Emma looked at him.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
He reached for her.
“Come on. I'll take you somewhere and we'll talk without them twisting everything.”
I stood instantly.
“You are not taking her anywhere.”
His eyes hardened.
“She's my daughter.”
“She is twelve years old and you haven't had legal custody or visitation in years.”
“I never signed away my rights.”
“Don't test me.”
Jason laughed.
“There she is.”
Emma stepped between us.
“Stop fighting over me!”
We both went silent.
She was shaking.
“I am not a prize.”
My heart cracked.
“No, you're not.”
“I want to know why Dad left.”
Jason opened his mouth.
Emma held up her hand.
“And I want to know why Daniel paid him.”
She looked at Daniel.
“And why Mom never told me Dad had a drug problem.”
Then she looked at all three of us.
“But I don't want any more secrets.”
Daniel said softly, “You deserve that.”
Emma wiped her face.
“Then tell me one thing right now.”
She looked at Jason.
“Did you steal Mom's money?”
Jason didn't respond.
“Dad?”
He stared at her.
His expression softened.
“I was going to replace it.”
Emma's face fell.
“That means yes.”
“Emma—”
“You told me Daniel forced you to leave because Mom chose him.”
“It was complicated.”
“Daniel wasn't even dating her yet.”
Jason looked toward me.
“Not officially.”
I froze.
“What does that mean?”
Jason laughed softly.
Daniel's head snapped up.
“Don't.”
I turned toward Daniel.
“What does he mean?”
Jason smiled.
“Oh, he didn't tell you that either?”
“Tell me what?”
Jason looked directly at Emma.
“Your mother and Daniel met long before I left.”
Daniel stood.
“Jason.”
“How long?” I demanded.
Daniel looked at me.
“We met twice.”
My stomach dropped.
“When?”
“At company events.”
I remembered.
A summer cookout.
A Christmas party.
Daniel had been there.
I hadn't remembered his name.
Jason grinned.
“He noticed you.”
Daniel's eyes burned.
“That's enough.”
“He asked me about you.”
Daniel moved toward him.
I grabbed his arm.
“You asked Jason about me?”
Daniel looked ashamed.
“Once.”
“What did you ask?”
“If he was serious about you.”
“Why?”
Daniel glanced at Emma.
Then back at me.
“Because I thought you deserved better.”
The words hit like a slap.
Jason laughed.
“There it is.”
I pulled my hand away from Daniel.
“You wanted me while I was still with him?”
Daniel whispered, “Yes.”
Emma stared at him.
“So Dad was right.”
“No.”
She backed away.
“You wanted Mom.”
“Yes.”
“And then Dad disappeared.”
“Yes.”
“And you paid him.”
“Not because I wanted Rachel.”
“How am I supposed to believe that?”
Daniel had no answer.
Jason smiled.
For the first time that night, he looked like he was winning.
Emma turned toward the door.
“I need air.”
I followed her outside.
“Emma.”
“Please don't.”
She sat on the curb.
I sat beside her.
For a minute neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered, “Did you ever love Dad?”
The question surprised me.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Enough that when he left, I thought I'd never trust anyone again.”
She looked at me.
“Then you married Daniel.”
“Years later.”
“Do you love him more?”
I swallowed.
“Love isn't a scoreboard.”
“For me it is.”
I looked at her.
She was crying again.
“If Daniel is my dad, then Jason isn't.”
“That isn't true.”
“If Jason is my dad, then Daniel isn't.”
“That isn't true either.”
She shook her head.
“You don't get it.”
“Then help me.”
Her voice broke.
“I spent my whole life wondering why my father didn't want me.”
I felt tears fill my eyes.
“And now he's telling me he did.”
I reached for her hand.
She let me take it.
“If I believe him, then I have to believe you and Daniel kept him away.”
I squeezed her fingers.
“And if you don't believe him?”
She looked at me.
“Then I have to believe my dad chose money over me.”
I had no answer.
Because that was the real cruelty.
Jason hadn't just returned.
He had handed our daughter a choice where every answer hurt.
The coffee shop door opened.
Daniel came outside.
Alone.
“Where's Jason?” I asked.
“He left through the other door.”
Emma stood immediately.
“What?”
She rushed inside.
His chair was empty.
The envelope was gone.
So was his coffee.
Emma called him.
No answer.
She called again.
Straight to voicemail.
Her face collapsed.
“He left again.”
I moved toward her.
She stepped away.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message from Jason.
I need some time. I'm sorry.
Emma stared at it.
Her lower lip trembled.
Daniel closed his eyes.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I pulled Emma into my arms.
This time she let me.
Then another message appeared.
Not from Jason.
Unknown number.
Emma opened it.
A photograph loaded.
Margaret Carter.
Jason's mother.
She was older now, sitting in what looked like a hospital room.
May you like
The message underneath said:
If you want the truth about the night your father disappeared, come ask me before Jason finds out I'm still alive.
