Chapter 6: The Secret Vanessa Buried
I drove home without remembering the journey.
My hands held the steering wheel.
My eyes watched the road.
But my mind was somewhere else.
With a question I couldn’t escape.
How could Vanessa know Lily?
Lily was my daughter.
My baby.
She had never been around Vanessa before Daniel and I moved in together.
At least, that was what I believed.
When I arrived at my mother’s house, Rachel was waiting.
She looked exhausted.
Like she had aged years overnight.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“For what?””
“For bringing this to you.””
I shook my head.
“No. I need to know.””
She handed me an old folder.
Inside were newspaper clippings.
Police reports.
Documents.
And one photograph.
A younger Vanessa stood outside a community center.
Beside her was a woman holding a baby.
I looked closer.
“Who is that?””
Rachel swallowed.
“That’s Vanessa’s sister.””
“Your mother?””
“No.””
She pointed.
“That’s me.””
I looked at her.
Confusion filled my face.
“What?””
Rachel sat down.
“Vanessa wasn’t just obsessed with children.””
She looked at the photo.
“She was obsessed with replacing people.””
I listened as Rachel explained.
Years ago, Vanessa had worked at a childcare center.
Parents trusted her.
She was kind.
Helpful.
The person everyone described as “perfect.””
Until children started saying strange things.
That Vanessa made them feel scared.
That she took pictures without permission.
That she told them secrets should stay hidden.
“But nobody believed them,” Rachel said.
“Why?””
“Because Vanessa was convincing.””
The same word kept appearing.
Convincing.
Manipulative.
Careful.
“She knew how to make people question themselves.””
I looked down at the folder.
“And Lily?””
Rachel pointed to another document.
“This is why I called.””
It was an old intake form.
The name on top made my heart stop.
Lily Carter.
I looked at the date.
Six years ago.
Before Lily was even born.
“No.””
Rachel leaned closer.
“Look at the signature.””
My eyes moved downward.
The handwriting.
The signature.
I knew it.
My blood turned cold.
Vanessa’s name was there.
I stood up.
“How?””
Nobody answered.
Because there was only one possibility.
Vanessa had been watching me long before I knew she existed.
That evening, I called Daniel.
He answered immediately.
“What happened?””
I didn’t waste time.
“Did Vanessa know me before we met?””
Silence.
A terrible silence.
“Daniel.””
He exhaled.
“I didn’t want you to find out like this.””
My entire body went cold.
“You knew?””
“I found out recently.””
“When?””
“Months ago.””
Months.
The same months he had been collecting evidence against me.
I gripped the phone.
“What is she?””
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“I don’t know.””
“Yes, you do.””
“No.””
He sounded afraid.
Actually afraid.
“She told me she had been helping my family for years.””
“What does that mean?””
Another pause.
Then:
“She said Lily wasn’t supposed to be yours.””
I stopped breathing.
“What?””
“She said Lily belonged to someone else.””
My mind raced.
“That’s insane.””
“I know.””
“Then why believe her?””
“I didn’t.””
“Daniel.””
His voice cracked.
“But she showed me something.””
The room went silent.
“What did she show you?””
He whispered:
“A birth record.””
My heart pounded.
“Whose?””
Before he could answer, there was a loud crash outside.
I ran to the window.
A car door slammed.
Someone was standing near the driveway.
Watching the house.
Daniel was still on the phone.
“Listen to me.””
I stared outside.
The person stepped into the light.
My blood froze.
It was Vanessa.
Daniel whispered:
“She knows you found out.””
The call ended.
And Vanessa slowly raised her hand.
Not to wave.
May you like
To point.
Directly at Lily’s bedroom window.
