Chapter 1 — “You Told Her You Weren’t Coming Back?”
Little Sophie walked into the living room holding her mother Vanessa’s hand.
The second she saw her father, she let go.
“Daddy!”
Daniel barely had time to put down his keys.
Sophie ran straight into his arms.
He lifted her.
She wrapped both arms tightly around his neck.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
Daniel kissed her forehead.
Then he noticed Vanessa standing across the room.
She wasn’t smiling.
Beside the coffee table sat a large travel bag.
Fully packed.
Daniel’s expression changed.
“Why is that packed?”
Vanessa looked toward the bag.
“I was going to leave for a few days.”
“Where?”
“I haven’t decided.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You packed before deciding where you’re going?”
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Sophie tightened her arms around Daniel.
Then she whispered into his ear.
Daniel’s face changed immediately.
He looked toward Vanessa.
“You told her she wasn’t coming back?”
Vanessa froze.
“That’s not exactly what I said.”
Sophie shook her head against Daniel’s shoulder.
“Mommy said this might be her last night here.”
Daniel held his daughter more tightly.
“Why would you tell a six-year-old that?”
Vanessa grabbed her handbag.
“I can’t do this right now.”
She walked toward the door.
Daniel did not follow.
He stayed exactly where he was.
Holding Sophie.
Vanessa stopped with her hand on the doorknob.
For a moment Daniel thought she might turn around.
Instead, she whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
Then she left.
The packed travel bag remained beside the table.
Daniel looked down at Sophie.
“Did Mommy say anything else?”
Sophie hesitated.
“She said you would understand when you saw the blue book.”
Daniel frowned.
“What blue book?”
Sophie pointed toward the travel bag.
Daniel slowly walked over.
He unzipped it.
Clothes.
Toiletries.
A framed photograph.
Then, beneath everything…
a faded blue notebook.
Across the cover were four handwritten words:
VANESSA & OLIVIA — ALWAYS.
Daniel had been married to Vanessa for nine years.
He had never heard the name Olivia.