Chapter 3 - The Teacher's Envelope
I caught Tiffany's wrist before she reached the pages. I didn't squeeze. I just put my body between her and June.
"Do not touch that," I said.
"You're letting a teacher interfere in our marriage."
"I'm listening to someone who teaches my daughter every day. That's something I should have done sooner."
Monica stared down at her lap. Rae slid her phone beneath a cushion. I noticed both movements, filed them away, and turned to June.
"Why did you come here?"
"Tiffany invited me to talk about Maya's behavior plan. I came because my messages weren't reaching you. Then I realized she intended to treat this like a little social gathering." June glanced at her untouched wine. "I shouldn't have sat down."
I asked her to put the essay back in its envelope. "We'll read it with Maya's permission. Right now I need to get her out of this room."
Tiffany folded her arms. "You're not removing her from our home because she cleaned a floor."
"No," I said. "I'm taking my child somewhere quiet because she was frightened when she saw you coming."
I went into the kitchen. Maya sat at the counter, both hands folded beside the cinnamon rolls. She had not opened the box.
"Want one?" I asked.
"I didn't finish."
"You don't have to earn food."
Her eyes filled. "That's not what Tiffany says."
I stayed still. I could hear the hum of our refrigerator, the air conditioner kicking on, someone in the living room whispering my name.
"You can tell me anything," I said.
"You say that when you get home. Then you leave again."
She didn't say it angrily. That made it worse.
Ruth, my mother, lived fifteen minutes away. I called her. She said she'd come at once, then asked whether she should bring Maya's favorite blanket. I told her yes. I also called Kelly, Maya's mother, who worked at a hospital in Phoenix. Kelly answered on her second ring.
"Is Maya sick?"
"She's safe," I said. "But I think I've been missing something serious. I need you involved."
There was a pause. "Greg, I've been trying to get involved for months."
"What do you mean?"
"I've left you six messages about Maya," Kelly said. "Every one of them was answered by text, saying she was fine and I should stop upsetting her."
May you like
I had sent none of those texts.
Then Kelly said, "Tell me you knew she was no longer allowed to call me after dinner."
