Chapter 2 — The Story Claire Had Been Telling
Michael sat with Emma on the couch.
He placed her stuffed rabbit beside her.
“What else has Aunt Claire told you?”
Emma hesitated.
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
“Is Aunt Claire?”
Michael chose his words carefully.
“Aunt Claire said something she should not have said.”
Emma looked down.
Then slowly began explaining.
It had started months earlier.
When Claire picked her up for ice cream, she sometimes talked about Rebecca.
At first, the stories were harmless.
Rebecca’s favorite movie.
Her terrible cooking.
The time she cut Claire’s hair when they were children.
Emma loved those stories.
She had been only four when her mother died.
Every memory mattered.
Then Claire began adding other things.
“Your mommy used to see us all the time before she married Daddy.”
Then:
“Daddy didn’t like Grandma Helen.”
And eventually:
“Your mommy lost her family because your dad wanted her all to himself.”
Michael stared at his daughter.
“She said those things to you?”
Emma nodded.
“She said not to tell because you’d get mad.”
Michael closed his eyes.
That hurt more than anything else.
Claire had not merely shared her opinion.
She had created a secret alliance with an eight-year-old.
Then today, Claire told Emma something even worse.
During the drive from art class, Claire said Michael might move away soon.
“She said you’re going to get another wife.”
Michael stared at her.
“Sweetheart, I’m not planning another family.”
Emma nodded slowly.
“She said when grown-ups get new families, sometimes they don’t need the old kids.”
Michael felt sick.
“That is not true.”
He pulled Emma close.
“You do not become replaceable because adults’ lives change.”
Emma started crying again.
“She said Grandma would take me if you didn’t want me.”
Michael understood Claire’s plan now.
Claire wanted to bring Emma to Grandma Helen’s house.
Emma had resisted because Michael had told her to come directly home after art class.
So Claire frightened her.
She made Emma believe going with her might be necessary.
Michael’s anger returned.
But beneath it was another question.
Why was Claire so convinced he had destroyed Rebecca’s relationship with her family?
Michael knew the story differently.
Very differently.