Chapter 5: The Man Who Visited When Dad Was Away
My father lowered his phone.
“What did you just say?””
Vanessa pressed both hands against the table.
“I didn't mean it like that.””
Daniel stood abruptly.
“Vanessa, stop talking.””
Dad turned toward him.
“You don't get to tell my wife what to say in my house.””
Daniel's face reddened.
“I'm trying to keep this situation from becoming more complicated than it already is.””
“Then answer one question. Are you having an affair with my wife?””
Vanessa began crying.
“Michael, please. You have to understand—”
“Are you?””
She looked at Daniel.
He looked away.
That was all the answer my father needed.
Dad stepped back from the table as though the air had suddenly become poisonous.
“How long?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“It's not what you think.””
“How long?””
Her shoulders began to tremble.
“Six months.””
Dad stared at her.
Six months earlier, he'd taken me to visit colleges during a weekend business trip. Vanessa had told him she was staying home because she felt tired. When we returned, she'd prepared a special dinner and kissed him at the front door.
I remembered because she'd asked me to photograph them together.
I'd thought she was happy.
I'd thought we were a family.
Dad rubbed his forehead.
“Six months,” he repeated.
“You've been bringing another man into my house for six months?””
“Only when you were traveling.””
The moment she said it, she covered her mouth.
Dad laughed once, without humor.
“You actually believe that makes it better?””
“No. I just—”
“You let him into the home where my daughter sleeps?””
Vanessa glanced toward the stairs.
“He wasn't always here.””
Daniel interrupted.
“Michael, I think we should focus on the financial issue. The relationship is personal.””
Dad turned toward him.
“You used my money, helped forge my signature, and arranged to send my daughter away. You don't get to decide what's personal.””
Daniel's phone vibrated.
He checked it and quickly slipped it into his pocket.
Dad noticed.
“Who was that?””
“Nobody important.””
“Show me.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That's my private phone.””
Dad reached for his own.
“Fine. I'll let the police decide how important it is.””
Daniel's composure finally cracked.
“Look, I didn't know the signature was forged when the first documents were submitted!””
“Then why are you here?””
“Vanessa told me there was a problem with the account.””
“What account?””
Daniel looked at her.
She shook her head, silently warning him.
But he was frightened now.
“The account your wife opened for the baby.””
Dad went completely still.
“What baby account?””
Daniel pulled a folded statement from his jacket.
Vanessa rushed toward him.
“Don't you dare!””
He held it away from her.
“You told me everything was settled!””
“Daniel!””
Dad took the statement.
It listed a newly opened account under Vanessa's name. Several deposits had been made from the business reserve account, totaling nearly forty thousand dollars.
Beside each transfer was a short note.
Residential placement.
Enrollment fees.
Family relocation.
Dad stared at the figures.
“Why is money for my company being used to fund a family relocation?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I was going to pay it back.””
“With what?””
She didn't answer.
Dad pointed to the account opening date.
“This was opened before you submitted Emily's school application.””
“Yes.””
“And the money started moving before you told me you were pregnant.””
Vanessa's face crumpled.
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
“Of losing everything!””
Dad looked around the kitchen.
The polished counters. The expensive appliances. The framed family photographs hanging beside the pantry.
“You had everything,” he said quietly.
“You had a home. You had security. You had a husband who trusted you.””
“I didn't want to lose my lifestyle!””
The confession escaped so quickly that even Vanessa seemed startled by it.
Dad's expression changed.
“What?””
She wiped her face angrily.
“Do you think this life is easy? You disappear for weeks, and I'm left here managing everything. I wanted some security of my own.””
“So you stole from my business?””
“I borrowed it!””
“Without permission?””
She said nothing.
Dad shook his head.
“And you thought sending Emily away would solve the problem?””
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
“Emily was always going to be a problem. You put her first in everything. Every decision revolves around her. Even now, you care more about her school than the baby I'm carrying.””
I stepped fully into the doorway.
“I never asked you to choose between us.””
Vanessa turned toward me.
“You didn't have to. You just had to exist.””
The words struck harder than any slap.
Dad moved immediately.
“Don't you ever speak to my daughter like that again.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“See? That's exactly what I mean!””
“No,” he replied.
“That's exactly what a father is supposed to do.””
Noah appeared behind me, rubbing his eyes.
“Mommy?””
Vanessa's anger disappeared for an instant.
“Come here, sweetheart.””
He ran to her, and she scooped him up.
Then he looked at Daniel.
“Are you the man who brings Mommy presents when Daddy goes away?””
Daniel's face drained of color.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Dad slowly turned toward the child.
“What presents, Noah?””
“Chocolate,” Noah said.
“And flowers. Mommy says I'm not supposed to tell Daddy because it's a surprise.””
Dad looked at the shopping bags scattered around the living room.
Then at the unfamiliar man standing beside his dining table.
Then at his wife.
“How many times has he been here?””
Vanessa clutched Noah tightly.
“Michael, please don't do this in front of the children.””
Dad's voice cracked.
“You brought him into my home while I was paying for it. You let him play with my son. You used my money to build a future with him.””
“He loves Noah!””
“Then why is he helping you send Emily away?””
Daniel opened his mouth but couldn't answer.
Dad turned to me.
“Emily, go upstairs and pack a bag. You're staying with me tonight.””
Vanessa stood abruptly.
“No. She isn't going anywhere.””
Dad looked at her with disbelief.
“You've lost the right to make that demand.””
“I'm still her stepmother!””
“And I'm still her father.””
He held out his hand to me.
I took it.
For the first time in weeks, I felt safe enough to breathe.
But as Dad led me toward the stairs, Daniel suddenly spoke.
“Michael, there's one more thing you should know.””
Dad stopped.
Daniel looked at Vanessa, then at the insurance papers.
“The beneficiary change wasn't her idea.””
Vanessa went rigid.
Dad slowly turned around.
“What do you mean?””
Daniel swallowed.
“She didn't come to me asking to change your policy. Someone else told her it was the only way to secure the money.””
“Who?””
Daniel's eyes shifted toward the front window.
A dark sedan had just pulled into the driveway.
He whispered a name.
“Your business partner, Richard.””
My father released my hand.
Because Richard Hayes wasn't just his business partner.
May you like
He was the man who'd helped Dad build his company from the ground up.
And according to Daniel, he'd been planning something with Vanessa for months.
