Chapter 2 - The Address Maya Already Knew
Marcus Reed stared at the address until the numbers blurred.
Claire stood across the dining room, pale beneath the warm chandelier light, while seven-year-old Maya clung to the back of her father's jacket.
“Where did you take her?”
Claire swallowed.
“It isn't what you think.”
Marcus gave a humorless laugh.
“You shoved my daughter's face into a cake, told her I was tired of her, and now I'm holding a note that says she won't be a problem anymore.”
Several guests quietly moved toward the foyer.
Marcus didn't stop them.
The birthday party was over.
Only the truth mattered now.
“Daddy,” Maya whispered.
Marcus crouched immediately.
“What is at that address, sweetheart?”
Maya wiped frosting from her cheek with the sleeve of her pink party dress.
“A yellow house.”
Claire closed her eyes.
Marcus noticed.
“What happened there?”
“There was a lady.”
“What lady?”
“She asked me questions.”
Marcus's stomach tightened.
“What questions?”
Maya looked uncertain.
“She asked if I liked living here. She asked if you get mad. She asked if I wanted another mommy.”
Marcus slowly looked at Claire.
Claire whispered, “Marcus, please.”
He stood.
“No. You don't get to say please right now.”
The decorator who had found the note, a middle-aged woman named Denise Harper, remained near the table.
She looked uncomfortable.
“Mr. Reed, I can stay with Maya if you need a minute.”
Marcus shook his head.
He wasn't letting Maya out of his sight.
Not tonight.
He called his older brother, Daniel, who lived ten minutes away.
“Come over.”
Daniel heard something in Marcus's voice and didn't ask questions.
“I’m coming.”
Marcus ended the call.
Claire crossed her arms.
“You're making this look insane.”
“Then make it sane.”
“I took her to meet someone.”
“Without telling me.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Claire glanced at Maya.
Marcus followed her gaze.
That hesitation frightened him more than an immediate answer would have.
“Who, Claire?”
“A family consultant.”
Marcus stared.
“What does that mean?”
“She helps families transition.”
“Transition into what?”
Claire's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Maya tugged Marcus's sleeve again.
“The lady had papers.”
Marcus crouched.
“What kind?”
“She said I might get a new bedroom.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Maya, that's enough.”
Marcus rose so fast his chair struck the floor.
“Do not tell her when she's had enough.”
Claire froze.
Daniel arrived minutes later and took Maya into the den, but only after Marcus explained that he needed to talk to Claire and promised he wasn't leaving the house.
Maya made him promise twice.
When the door closed, Marcus placed the crumpled wish card on the table.
“Start talking.”
Claire stared at it.
“The woman is named Rebecca Sloan.”
“And?”
“She works with a private placement agency.”
Marcus didn't understand.
Then he did.
His face went cold.
“Placement?”
Claire rushed to explain.
“Not adoption. Not exactly.”
“What does not exactly mean?”
“Temporary residential care.”
Marcus stepped backward.
For one terrible second, he couldn't hear anything except the blood pounding in his ears.
“You were planning to send Maya away?”
“I was exploring options.”
“She is seven.”
“She needs structure.”
“She needs her father.”
“She needs more than you can give her!”
The words echoed through the room.
Claire immediately looked as if she wanted them back.
Marcus stared.
There it was.
Not cake.
Not clinginess.
Not discipline.
Something much deeper had been growing inside Claire.
“When were you going to tell me?”
“I hadn't decided anything.”
Marcus pointed at the note.
“After tonight, Maya won't be a problem anymore.”
“I didn't write that.”
“It's on the back of the card you tore up.”
“I did not write it.”
“Then who did?”
Claire shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Marcus wanted to believe nothing she said.
But the fear in her eyes looked different now.
Not fear of being exposed.
Fear of the sentence itself.
Marcus looked again at the handwriting.
“Did Rebecca come here today?”
“No.”
“Who else knew about the address?”
Claire hesitated.
“One other person.”
Marcus waited.
Claire whispered the name.
May you like
“Your mother.”
And suddenly, the birthday party became part of a family conflict Marcus hadn't even known existed.
