Chapter 1 — “You Told Her I Didn’t Want Her Anymore?”
Little Emma walked into the kitchen holding the hand of a sharply dressed woman named Claire.
The moment Emma saw her father, everything changed.
“Daddy!”
She pulled her hand away from Claire.
Then ran across the room.
Michael barely had time to turn before his daughter threw herself into his arms.
He immediately lifted her.
Emma wrapped both arms tightly around his neck.
Too tightly.
Michael noticed immediately.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
He rubbed her back.
“What’s going on?”
Claire walked closer.
“Michael, before you get upset, let me explain.”
Michael looked at her.
Claire was Emma’s aunt.
The older sister of Michael’s late wife, Rebecca.
She had picked Emma up from her Saturday art class before.
But today wasn’t supposed to be one of those days.
“Why did you take her from class?”
Claire began speaking quickly.
“Mom wants to see her. It’s been months, and I thought if we could just get everyone together—”
Michael’s expression hardened.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Emma buried her face against his shoulder.
Claire reached toward her.
“Emma, come here. Let the adults talk.”
Michael stepped backward.
“No.”
Claire stopped.
“Michael.”
“She stays with me.”
Claire’s face tightened.
“You’re doing exactly what you’ve always done.”
“What does that mean?”
“Keeping her away from Rebecca’s family.”
Michael stared at her.
“Don’t do this in front of Emma.”
Claire continued anyway.
“She deserves to know she has another family.”
Then Emma whispered something into Michael’s ear.
Michael stopped moving.
He looked directly at Claire.
“What did you say to her?”
Claire went quiet.
Michael’s voice remained calm.
“Emma says you told her I didn’t want her anymore.”
Claire froze.
Emma tightened her arms around Michael.
He held her closer.
“You told my daughter that?”
Claire looked toward Emma.
“That’s not exactly how I said it.”
Emma lifted her face.
“You said Daddy wants a new family.”
Claire’s face went pale.
Michael said nothing for several seconds.
That silence frightened Claire more than shouting would have.
Finally:
“Leave.”
Claire stared at him.
“Michael, please.”
“You will not use my daughter to fight an argument you have with me.”
Claire picked up her handbag.
But before walking away, she said:
“Ask yourself why Emma believed me so quickly.”
Michael looked at her.
Claire continued.
“Maybe because somewhere inside, she already knows what you did to Rebecca’s family.”
Michael’s expression changed.
“What I did?”
Claire opened the door.
“You took my sister away from us long before she died.”
Then she left.
Emma was still trembling in Michael’s arms.
He kissed her forehead.
“Sweetheart.”
“Yeah?”
“I need you to hear me very clearly.”
Emma looked at him.
“I want you.”
Her eyes filled.
“Always?”
Michael swallowed.
“Always.”
Then Emma quietly asked:
“Why does Aunt Claire say you made Mommy leave her?”
Michael went completely still.
This wasn’t the first story Claire had been telling Emma.
It was only the first one Emma had repeated in front of him.