Chapter 4: The Woman Waiting at Home
Dad drove home so fast that I had to hold my backpack against my chest to keep it from sliding off my lap.
Neither of us spoke.
Mrs. Collins had offered to let me stay at school, but Dad insisted that he needed to confront Linda immediately. Ms. Reynolds had warned him not to turn the situation into an argument that might put me at risk.
"Mark, please think carefully," she had said.
"We need to understand why your wife has been interfering with Emily's education and attempting to cancel her enrollment.""
Dad had nodded.
But I could see his hands shaking.
When we pulled into the driveway, Linda's car was already there.
The curtains were closed.
Dad stared at the house.
"Stay beside me, sweetheart.""
I nodded.
He unlocked the front door.
Linda was standing in the kitchen, pouring herself coffee.
She looked surprised to see us.
"Mark? You're home early.""
Dad placed his keys on the counter.
"Why did you call Emily's school?""
Linda didn't even turn around.
"What are you talking about?""
"You requested that her enrollment be canceled.""
The coffee pot stopped dripping.
Linda slowly placed her cup down.
"Oh, that.""
Dad stared at her.
"That?""
She turned around with a tired expression.
"I was trying to make things easier.""
"How?""
"Emily has been struggling. I thought a different school might be better.""
I looked at her.
She had never mentioned another school to me.
Not once.
Dad took a step closer.
"You signed for letters from the school and never gave them to me.""
Linda folded her arms.
"I was handling it.""
"You told them Emily had transferred.""
"I was considering it.""
"You identified yourself as her mother.""
Linda's expression hardened.
"Well, I am the woman raising her, aren't I?""
Dad shook his head.
"That isn't what they asked you.""
She glanced at me.
Then she looked back at him.
"Mark, can we please talk without her standing here?""
"No.""
Linda's eyebrows lifted.
"Excuse me?""
"I said no. Emily stays.""
For a moment, I thought Linda might shout.
Instead, she smiled.
It was the smile she used when she wanted Dad to think she was being reasonable.
"Fine. Let's talk about what really happened. Your daughter has been jealous of Noah since he was born.
She doesn't like sharing attention. She refuses to help, throws tantrums, and now she's making accusations because she knows you feel guilty about Sarah.""
Dad's jaw tightened.
"Don't bring Sarah into this.""
"Why not? It's the truth.""
Linda walked toward the refrigerator and took out a bottle of milk.
"Since Emily's mother died, you've tried to give her everything. You never correct her properly because you feel sorry for her.""
I stood beside Dad.
My stomach hurt.
Linda poured milk into a glass.
"And now she's learned that if she cries enough, she can turn you against me.""
Dad stared at her.
"Did you keep her home from school?""
Linda took a sip.
"Sometimes.""
"How many times?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you hide her backpack?""
She looked at me.
"Emily loses things all the time.""
Dad struck the counter with his palm.
"Answer me!""
Linda's glass trembled.
"Yes! I hid it a few times. Happy now?""
I flinched.
Dad stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because I needed help!""
"She's eight!""
"And I'm one person!""
Her voice rose.
"Do you know what it's like to look after a baby all day? To clean this house? To cook for everyone?
You come home, eat dinner, and go to sleep. I do everything!""
Dad shook his head.
"You could have asked me for help.""
"I did!""
"Then why didn't you tell me what was happening?""
Linda laughed bitterly.
"Because you would have chosen her.""
The words hung in the kitchen.
Dad didn't respond.
Linda continued.
"Ever since I married you, I've been competing with a dead woman and her perfect little daughter.""
I looked at her.
I didn't understand how my mother could still be competing with anyone.
She was gone.
I missed her every day.
Dad spoke quietly.
"Sarah has nothing to do with this.""
"Everything has to do with Sarah!""
Linda pointed toward me.
"Look at her. Every time I tell her to do something, she gives me that same wounded expression. She wants you to think I'm cruel.""
Dad stepped between us.
"Stop talking about my daughter like that.""
Linda's face changed.
"Your daughter?""
He looked directly at her.
"Yes. My daughter.""
She stared at him for several seconds.
Then she put down her glass.
"Fine. If that's how you feel, perhaps you should handle everything yourself.""
She walked upstairs.
A bedroom door slammed.
Dad sat at the kitchen table.
I stood beside him.
He looked at my small hands.
"Emily?""
"Yes, Daddy?""
"Have you been taking care of Noah every morning?""
I nodded.
"How?""
I counted on my fingers.
"I wash his bottles. I make his breakfast. I change him when he gets dirty.
I fold his clothes. Sometimes I make eggs for lunch.""
Dad closed his eyes.
"Who taught you to make eggs?""
"Mommy.""
His face crumpled.
He reached for my hand.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
I looked down.
"Did I do something wrong?""
Dad shook his head immediately.
"No. No, baby. You did nothing wrong.""
"Then why were you mad at me?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he pulled me onto his lap.
"I'm sorry.""
I leaned against his chest.
He smelled like machine oil and the mint gum he always chewed after work.
"I should have listened.""
I wanted to believe him.
But I was still afraid that Linda would come downstairs and make him change his mind.
An hour later, there was another knock at the door.
Dad opened it.
Mrs. Collins stood outside with Ms. Reynolds.
"Mark," Mrs. Collins said, "we need to speak with you.""
Dad stepped aside.
They entered the living room.
Linda came downstairs wearing a fresh blouse.
She had washed her face and reapplied her makeup.
"Well, this is becoming quite an occasion," she said.
Ms. Reynolds opened her folder.
"Mrs. Parker, we need to clarify several matters concerning Emily's attendance and the attempted withdrawal request.""
Linda sat down.
"Of course.""
Ms. Reynolds placed two documents on the coffee table.
"These are copies of the letters delivered to this address.""
Linda glanced at them.
"Yes. I received them.""
"Why weren't they shared with Emily's father?""
"I forgot.""
Mrs. Collins looked stunned.
"Both letters?""
Linda shrugged.
"I've had a lot going on.""
Ms. Reynolds continued.
"And why did you tell the school that Emily was moving to another district?""
"I was considering my options.""
"Did you have a new school arranged?""
Linda said nothing.
"Had you informed her father?""
"No.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Why are you doing this, Linda?""
She looked at him.
Then she did something unexpected.
She started crying.
Not quietly.
She covered her face and began sobbing.
"I knew this would happen. I knew nobody would understand how hard I've tried.""
Dad remained silent.
Linda looked at him through her fingers.
"I gave up so much to become part of this family.""
Then she pointed at me.
"And she hates me for it.""
I shrank against Dad.
Mrs. Collins noticed.
"Emily, would you like to sit with me?""
I nodded.
She held my hand.
Linda watched us.
Then she whispered something that made the entire room go silent.
"Perhaps everyone should know what Emily did to Noah while I was upstairs.""
Dad slowly turned toward her.
"What did she do?""
Linda wiped her cheeks.
"There's a reason I stopped trusting her with the baby.""
My fingers went cold.
Because I knew exactly what she was about to do.
May you like
She was going to blame me for something I hadn't done.
And this time, she had prepared something much worse than a lie.
