Chapter 2 - The Suitcase Nobody Asked Daniel About
Daniel carried the suitcase downstairs after Sophie fell asleep.
Rachel was waiting in the kitchen.
Linda had gone home.
He placed the suitcase on the island.
“Explain this.”
Rachel’s eyes went toward it.
She did not look surprised.
That mattered.
“It was for a trip.”
“What trip?”
“Louisville.”
“With Meredith and Scott?”
“Yes.”
“Without me?”
Rachel rubbed her forehead.
“You travel constantly, Daniel.”
“That doesn’t answer me.”
She looked exhausted rather than frightened now.
For eighteen months, Rachel had been the woman trying to fit herself into a house filled with someone else’s history.
Daniel’s first wife, Natalie, had died from complications after a pulmonary embolism when Sophie was two.
Her photographs were still upstairs.
Her Christmas ornaments still came out every December.
Sophie remembered very little about her, but Daniel talked about Natalie openly because he never wanted his daughter to grow up believing her mother had been erased.
Rachel had once said she admired that.
Later, she started calling it “living with a ghost.”
Their marriage had become tense in small ways.
Rachel complained that Daniel overruled her whenever Sophie disliked a rule.
Daniel accused Rachel of expecting a five-year-old to treat her like an instant mother.
Linda frequently stepped between them.
Usually on Rachel’s side.
Daniel had allowed it because Linda had helped raise Sophie after Natalie died.
He worked long hours in commercial real estate, especially during acquisitions.
Linda handled pickups.
Rachel handled pediatric appointments when Daniel couldn’t.
Daniel told himself delegation meant everyone was helping.
He had never asked who was beginning to believe they had authority.
Rachel pushed the suitcase toward him.
“Meredith offered to have Sophie for a while.”
“How long is ‘a while’?”
“A few months.”
Daniel stared at her.
Rachel continued quickly.
“We need space.”
“From my daughter?”
“From this.”
She motioned around the kitchen.
“Every decision revolves around Natalie. Every disagreement with Sophie becomes proof I’m the evil stepmother. Your mother thinks—”
“My mother thinks what?”
Rachel stopped.
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
“What does my mother think?”
“That maybe Sophie spending some time somewhere calmer would help everybody.”
Daniel laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“So the two of you decided my child should move to Kentucky.”
“It wasn’t decided.”
“There’s a suitcase upstairs.”
Rachel looked away.
Daniel opened it.
Pajamas.
Underwear.
Sneakers.
A stuffed rabbit.
Two dresses.
A sealed envelope.
Daniel picked it up.
Rachel moved toward him.
“Give me that.”
He stepped back.
Inside was a photocopy of Sophie’s birth certificate and health-insurance card.
No adoption forms.
No custody order.
Nothing that could legally make Meredith and Scott her parents.
Daniel felt some immediate relief.
Then another thought replaced it.
“Where did you get these?”
“Your mother had copies.”
Daniel stared at her.
Linda kept copies of family records because she had helped during the chaotic year after Natalie died.
Daniel had never taken them back.
He called his family attorney the next morning.
Claire Bowman had handled the estate work after Natalie’s death.
Her response was immediate.
“No one can simply adopt your daughter Monday.”
Daniel shut his eyes.
“Thank God.”
“But Daniel, that doesn’t mean there isn’t another problem.”
He told her about the packed suitcase.
Meredith.
Linda.
The documents.
Claire asked one question.
“Have you signed anything recently involving Sophie?”
Daniel almost said no.
Then he remembered.
Three weeks earlier, Linda had brought him a stack of papers before he left for Memphis.
School pickup forms.
Medical authorization.
Travel permission because Linda had wanted to take Sophie to Gatlinburg for a weekend.
Daniel had signed where Linda marked.
He had barely read them.
His stomach tightened.
“I might have.”
Claire’s voice became sharper.
“Find copies.”
He searched his email.
Nothing.
Then Sophie’s kindergarten called.
The school administrator sounded uncomfortable.
“Mr. Mercer, I’m glad I reached you.”
“Why?”
“We’ve been trying to confirm a withdrawal request.”
Daniel gripped the phone.
“What withdrawal request?”
“For Sophie.”
May you like
His mouth went dry.
The requested withdrawal date was Monday.
