My Stepfamily Moved In… Weeks Later, My Cat Was Dead

Rain turned the cemetery road into mud.

Police vehicles stopped without sirens.

I stayed behind the line, but I could see Vanessa near my mother's grave.

She was kneeling beside the headstone.

May's red collar hung from her hand.

Harris called out, "Vanessa Reed, stand up and show me your hands."

She looked over her shoulder.

Then she laughed.

"Of course Emma came."

I stepped closer despite Harris's warning.

"Give me the collar."

Vanessa held it up.

"This? You care more about an animal than your own family."

"May was my family."

Her mouth twisted. "That cat ruined everything."

"No. She exposed you."

Vanessa's eyes sharpened.

"She dragged Rachel's letter out where I could see it. I had spent years making Daniel believe your mother barely knew me. Then that stupid animal pulled the past into the light."

Harris said, "Put the collar down."

Vanessa ignored him.

"I only wanted the letter. The cat fought me. Caleb filmed me. Then you came home early. One animal and one spoiled girl destroyed nine years of work."

My hands shook.

"Did you hit my mother's car?"

For the first time, Vanessa looked at the headstone.

"She should have driven away when she saw me behind her."

Harris moved forward.

"That's enough. Hands where I can see them."

Vanessa stood.

"She panicked. The road was wet. I only meant to scare her."

Dad made a broken sound behind me.

Vanessa looked toward him.

"Daniel, I loved you before she ever understood what she had."

"You killed my wife," he said.