Chapter 10 - WHAT VANESSA WANTED
The letters said Lily was manipulative, attention-seeking, oppositional, and emotionally unstable.
Every page carried a professional-looking letterhead.
"Where did you get these?" I asked.
"From specialists."
"Which specialists?"
"The ones you refused to take seriously."
I read the first signature.
Dr. Martin Vale.
Rebecca searched the state licensing database.
No such psychologist existed.
The second name belonged to a retired pediatrician in Arizona who had never treated Lily.
The third letter used the logo of a child-development clinic that had closed two years earlier.
Vanessa watched us discover this without flinching.
"You think paperwork proves parenting?" she said.
"No," I answered. "But forged paperwork proves something else."
Her calm finally cracked.
"I gave up my life for this family."
"You tried to send my daughter away."
"Because she was ruining our marriage!"
The words echoed through the foyer.
Upstairs, a floorboard creaked.
Lily was listening.
I lowered my voice.
"Leave the house."
Vanessa laughed. "This is my house too."
Rebecca stepped between us. "For tonight, the safest course is voluntary separation."
Vanessa looked at her. "And who are you?"
"The attorney advising Daniel regarding custody, trust administration, and potential fraud."
That last word landed.
Vanessa went very still.
Then she picked up her purse.
"Fine. I'll go to my sister's."
At the door, she turned to me.
"Ask Lily what happened to Claire's necklace."
I hated the satisfaction in her voice.
After she left, I went upstairs.
Lily sat on her bed hugging a pillow.
"Sweetheart, do you know where Mom's necklace is?"
Her face drained of color.
"Vanessa said you would ask."
"I'm asking because I want the truth."
Lily slid off the bed and walked to the closet.
Behind a stack of shoes was a small velvet box.
Inside was the necklace.
And beneath it was a note in Lily's handwriting.
I'M SORRY I STOLE IT.
Lily burst into tears.
"Dad, I didn't write that because I stole it."
May you like
She pointed to the date.
"I wrote it because she made me."
