Chapter 1 - THE BAG OF UNOPENED GIFTS
Naomi Mercer heard her four-year-old daughter crying before she reached the family room.
Then she heard Vanessa.
“When Daddy comes home, you say Mommy forgot you again.”
Naomi stopped in the doorway.
Maisie stood beside the couch in her pale pink dress, tears running down her cheeks.
Vanessa held a black trash bag.
Inside were birthday gifts Naomi recognized immediately.
The stuffed rabbit she had mailed two weeks earlier.
The watercolor set.
Three unopened envelopes.
And the handmade card Maisie had been clutching seconds before.
“But Mommy DID come,” Maisie whispered.
Vanessa’s expression hardened.
“That isn’t what we practiced.”
Naomi felt something inside her break.
“Practiced?”
Vanessa spun around.
The color left her face.
Naomi crossed the room, tore the bag from Vanessa’s hands, and dumped everything onto the rug.
Boxes.
Cards.
Little packages.
Months of proof.
“You’ve been making my daughter think I abandoned her?”
Vanessa slapped Naomi across the face.
Naomi recoiled.
Then stepped between Vanessa and Maisie and forced Vanessa back from the child.
“You will never use my daughter against me again.”
Maisie immediately grabbed Naomi’s shirt.
Graham rushed in.
Vanessa transformed instantly.
“She attacked me! She’s unstable!”
For one terrible second, Graham looked confused.
Then Maisie spoke.
“Daddy…”
Everyone turned.
“Vanessa makes me practice before you come home.”
Graham stopped breathing.
Vanessa went pale.
Maisie pressed against Naomi.
“She said if I keep telling you Mommy doesn’t want me…”
Her voice became smaller.
“…I can live here forever.”
Graham slowly looked at his wife.
May you like
Naomi pulled Maisie closer.
And Vanessa realized the one person she had trained to lie had just told the truth.
