Chapter 4: The Woman in the Photograph
The woman standing beside Lily in the photograph was Vanessa.
But that wasn’t what made my hands shake.
It was where the picture had been taken.
I recognized the pale blue wall behind them. The faded mural of clouds. The little wooden bench beneath the window.
St. Matthew’s Family Counseling Center.
The place Lily’s mother, Rachel, had taken our daughter shortly before she died.
I looked at Vanessa.
“You knew Rachel?””
Vanessa’s face drained of color.
“I can explain.””
“Then explain why you’re standing beside my daughter in a photograph from before I ever met you.””
Mason stared at his mother.
“You knew Lily already?””
Vanessa didn’t answer him.
I crouched beside Lily.
“Sweetheart, where did you get this?””
Lily pointed upstairs.
“In Mommy Vanessa’s drawer.””
“When?””
“Today.””
She touched the photograph carefully.
“I remembered the room.””
My throat tightened.
“You remember Vanessa being there?””
Lily nodded.
“She gave me juice.””
Vanessa suddenly moved toward us.
“That’s enough.””
I stood immediately.
“Stay away from her.””
She stopped.
For the first time, she obeyed.
I studied the photograph again.
Rachel was not in it.
Only Vanessa and Lily.
Lily looked about three.
Vanessa was kneeling beside her, smiling at the camera.
On the back was a date.
Two years before Vanessa supposedly met me.
My chest tightened.
“You told me we first met at Claire’s barbecue.””
“We did.””
“No, we didn’t.””
“Michael—”
“You knew who I was.””
Vanessa’s eyes flicked toward the door.
I saw it.
She wanted to run.
“Mason,” I said gently, “take Lily upstairs.””
Vanessa snapped, “He’s my son.””
Mason flinched.
I looked at him.
“You can stay if you want.””
He reached for Lily’s hand.
“I’ll take her.””
As they climbed the stairs, Vanessa watched them with an expression I couldn’t read.
Then she turned back to me.
“Rachel came to the center.””
My heart hammered.
“You worked there?””
“Temporarily.””
“You told me you worked at a dental office.””
“That was later.””
“What did you do at the counseling center?””
“Reception.””
I stared at her.
“So you knew my wife.””
“She wasn’t your wife anymore.””
The correction came too quickly.
Too naturally.
I felt cold.
“How did you know that?””
Vanessa’s lips parted.
Nothing came out.
I stepped closer.
“What did Rachel tell you?””
“She talked to everyone.””
“About me?””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Sometimes.””
“What did she say?””
“That she was scared.””
The words hit me.
“Scared of me?””
“No.””
Vanessa looked toward the stairs.
“Scared she wouldn’t be around long enough to protect Lily.””
My knees almost weakened.
Rachel had been sick.
We knew her condition was serious, but she had hidden how frightened she was from me.
“What does that have to do with you?””
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
“She asked for help.””
“From you?””
“She didn’t have many people.””
I shook my head.
Rachel had parents in Ohio. A sister in Portland. Friends from college.
Vanessa was lying.
“You expect me to believe Rachel trusted a receptionist she barely knew with our daughter?””
Vanessa’s expression hardened.
“I didn’t say she trusted me.””
That stopped me.
“Then why were you with Lily?””
She remained silent.
I pulled out my phone.
“I’m calling Claire.””
Vanessa’s eyes widened.
“Why?””
“Because Claire introduced us.””
“Michael, don’t drag other people into this.””
“They’re already in it.””
I called.
Claire answered on the fourth ring.
“Michael?””
“Claire, I need you to tell me something.””
My voice sounded strange even to me.
“When you introduced me to Vanessa, did she already know who I was?””
Silence.
“Claire?””
“I thought you knew.””
Every hair on my arms stood up.
“Knew what?””
“That Vanessa asked about you.””
I stared at my wife.
“When?””
“Months before the barbecue.””
My stomach turned.
“Why?””
Claire hesitated.
“She said she recognized you from somewhere.””
Vanessa reached for my phone.
I stepped away.
“From where, Claire?””
Another pause.
“Rachel’s memorial service.””
I nearly dropped the phone.
Vanessa had been there.
At Rachel’s funeral.
Before she ever introduced herself to me.
I ended the call.
Neither of us spoke.
Finally, I whispered, “You watched me bury my daughter’s mother.””
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
“It wasn’t like that.””
“Then what was it like?””
She shook her head.
“You wouldn’t understand.””
“Try me.””
Her mouth opened.
Before she could answer, footsteps raced down the stairs.
Mason appeared, pale and breathless.
“Dad!””
I turned.
“What happened?””
“Lily remembered something.””
He was clutching another photograph.
“She said Mom used to visit her before you married her.””
Vanessa rushed forward.
“Mason!””
He backed away.
Then Lily appeared behind him.
She looked directly at Vanessa.
Her voice was barely audible.
“You told my first mommy not to tell Daddy.””
I couldn’t move.
Vanessa couldn’t either.
I knelt in front of Lily.
“Tell me exactly what you remember.””
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“She was crying.””
“Who?””
“My mommy.””
Rachel.
“What did Vanessa say?””
Lily looked toward my wife.
May you like
Then whispered the sentence that shattered whatever remained of my marriage.
“She said if Mommy told you the truth, you would lose me.””
