Chapter 2 - THE FATHER WHO WAS ALWAYS TOO BUSY
Arthur read twelve letters that night.
He could not finish the thirteenth.
Ethan had started writing them almost a year earlier.
Dad, Vanessa says Maya cries because I make her nervous.
Dad, Vanessa took Mommy’s necklace because she says Maya will lose it.
Dad, Vanessa says you don’t want us talking about Mommy anymore.
Dad, Vanessa locked Maya in her bedroom for timeout and told me not to bother you at work.
The last claim made Arthur call Vanessa downstairs.
She had packed an overnight bag but had not left.
“Did you lock Maya in her room?”
Vanessa stared at him.
“For timeout.”
“You locked the door?”
“For five minutes.”
“You told me her lock was broken.”
“It was.”
Arthur looked toward Ethan.
His son sat on the staircase holding Maya.
Neither child spoke.
Arthur’s stomach turned.
He had spent the previous two years telling himself he was doing everything for them.
After Claire died, he had taken over the architecture firm they had built together in San Francisco.
Then a major waterfront redevelopment contract nearly doubled the business.
Arthur worked fourteen-hour days.
He crossed the Golden Gate before sunrise and often came back after bedtime.
Vanessa filled the gaps.
At first, Arthur had been grateful.
She packed lunches.
Attended pediatric appointments.
Remembered library books.
Took Maya to preschool.
Helped Ethan with homework.
When Arthur’s sister praised Vanessa at Thanksgiving for “saving this family,” Arthur had agreed.
Ethan had stared at his plate.
Arthur remembered that now.
He had thought the boy was grieving.
Maybe he had been listening.
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“You want to judge every parenting decision I made while you were gone?”
“I’m judging hiding my son’s letters.”
“He wrote those whenever he was angry.”
“So you decided I shouldn’t see them?”
“I protected you from constant drama.”
Arthur nearly laughed.
“Protected me?”
“You’d come home exhausted. Ethan would have some complaint. Maya would be melting down. Somebody had to keep this house functioning.”
Ethan suddenly spoke from the stairs.
“She said you’d send me away if I kept causing problems.”
Arthur turned.
“What?”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Ethan.”
He flinched at his own name.
Arthur saw it.
“Look at me, buddy.”
Ethan did.
“Did she say that?”
A nod.
“How often?”
Ethan swallowed.
“A lot.”
Maya whispered against his shoulder:
“She says Daddy likes quiet girls.”
Arthur felt something inside him drop.
Vanessa stared at the floor.
Arthur walked to the foyer.
He opened the front door.
“You’re staying at the Cavallo tonight.”
Vanessa looked up.
“You’re throwing your wife out because an eight-year-old is angry?”
“No.”
Arthur’s voice remained controlled.
“I’m asking my wife to leave because my children are afraid to speak when she’s in the room.”
Vanessa grabbed her bag.
At the doorway she stopped.
“You think this happened because of me?”
Arthur stared.
Vanessa’s eyes were wet now.
May you like
“You should read everything in that room before you decide who taught them you didn’t want them.”
Then she left.
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