Chapter 2: The Things Her Mother Left Behind
The drive home was silent.
Nia sat in the back seat with the shoebox on her lap. She hadn't taken the sneakers out. She just kept running her fingers over the cardboard lid.
Vanessa sat beside me in the passenger seat, scrolling through her phone as if nothing had happened.
Every few minutes, she sighed dramatically.
Finally, she said, "I hope you're not planning to turn this into some huge family argument.""
I kept my eyes on the road.
"Where is Emily's jewelry?""
"I told you. It's somewhere safe.""
"Where?""
"Daniel, I don't remember every little thing.""
I gripped the steering wheel.
"You remembered exactly where to find six hundred dollars' worth of designer clothes today.""
She turned toward me.
"Those were necessities.""
I almost laughed.
"Nia's shoes were twenty-five dollars.""
"Please don't compare the children.""
That sentence made me glance at her.
"What does that mean?""
Vanessa looked out the window.
"Nothing. Forget it.""
But I couldn't forget it.
When we arrived home, Nia went upstairs. I heard her bedroom door close softly.
Vanessa placed her shopping bags on the kitchen counter.
"Before you say anything, I want you to understand that I have done a lot for this family.""
I removed my jacket.
"Then explain why my daughter believes you took something her mother left her.""
Vanessa opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of sparkling water.
"Emily's belongings were taking up space. Some things were damaged. I organized everything.""
"Organized where?""
"I don't know, Daniel. Maybe the storage room.""
I stared at her.
"You don't know where the jewelry is?""
She twisted the bottle cap.
"Why are you interrogating me?""
"Because my daughter just told me she saw her mother's bracelet in Madison's room.""
Vanessa's face hardened.
"Madison is a child. Perhaps she found something and played with it.""
"Then let's ask her.""
"Absolutely not. You're going to frighten her.""
I walked toward the stairs.
"Madison!""
Vanessa grabbed my arm.
"Daniel, stop.""
I looked down at her hand.
"Let go.""
She released me.
A moment later, Madison appeared at the top of the stairs. She was still wearing the sweater she'd picked out at the store.
"What's going on?"" she asked.
I kept my voice gentle.
"Madison, sweetheart, I need to ask you something. Do you have a gold bracelet that belonged to Nia's mother?""
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
Vanessa rushed toward the stairs.
"Madison, go to your room.""
But Madison didn't move.
"I didn't steal it," she whispered.
Nobody spoke.
She looked at me.
"Mom gave it to me.""
Vanessa's face turned red.
"Madison, that's enough!""
My stepdaughter began crying.
"She said it was hers now because Nia didn't even wear jewelry.""
I felt something heavy settle in my chest.
"Where is it?""
Madison hesitated.
"Upstairs.""
"Can you show me?""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Daniel, you're making a mistake. You're turning my daughter into a suspect over an old bracelet.""
I looked at her.
"If it belongs to Nia, it isn't old junk. It's her mother's.""
Madison slowly walked down the stairs.
We followed her into her bedroom.
Her room was nearly twice the size of Nia's. A large television stood across from her bed. Designer handbags were arranged on shelves, and a vanity covered almost every inch of the wall.
Madison opened the top drawer.
She moved several makeup palettes aside, then pulled out a small pink jewelry pouch.
Inside was Emily's diamond bracelet.
I recognized it immediately.
There was a tiny engraving on the clasp.
E to N. Forever.
Emily had shown me that engraving the week before she died.
I picked it up carefully.
"Madison, did your mother tell you where this came from?""
Madison nodded.
"She said you gave it to her after you and Emily separated.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"What?""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"I was trying to make sure something valuable didn't go to waste.""
"Emily and I never separated.""
She rolled her eyes.
"Daniel, you know what I mean. That was before I came into your life.""
I turned back to Madison.
"Did you know this was Nia's?""
Madison's chin trembled.
"I didn't know at first. But Nia saw it last month. She told me the engraving was her name.""
I looked at her.
"What happened then?""
Madison wiped her nose.
"I told Mom. She said Nia was being dramatic and that I should keep it because it looked better on me.""
Vanessa slammed her hand against the vanity.
"That's not what happened!""
Madison flinched.
"Mom, please.""
I put the bracelet into my pocket.
Then I noticed a photograph tucked into the mirror frame.
It showed Emily holding baby Nia in the hospital.
I recognized the picture. It had been part of a small collection I'd kept in the bedroom drawer with the jewelry.
"Where did this come from?"" I asked.
Madison looked down.
"Mom gave it to me too.""
I turned toward Vanessa.
"Why?""
"Because I was decorating her room!""
"With pictures of my dead wife?""
Vanessa's eyes flashed.
"Don't you dare speak to me like that.""
I walked out before I said something I couldn't take back.
In the hallway, I found Nia sitting on the floor outside her bedroom, holding an old photograph against her chest.
She looked up.
"Did you find it, Daddy?""
I knelt beside her.
"Yes, sweetheart. I found the bracelet.""
She nodded, but she didn't look relieved.
"There's more, isn't there?""
I brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
"What do you mean?""
Nia looked down at the photograph.
"Mom left me a little music box too. It played the song she used to sing when I couldn't sleep.""
I remembered it.
A small wooden box with a ballerina inside. Emily had bought it during our first anniversary trip.
"Do you know where it is?"" I asked.
Nia nodded slowly.
"I saw it in Vanessa's closet.""
My jaw tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me before?""
"Because she said if I told you, you'd think I was trying to get her in trouble.""
I pulled my daughter into my arms.
She finally began to cry.
"I just wanted one thing that smelled like Mom.""
I closed my eyes.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart.""
Then Nia whispered something else.
"There's something inside the music box, Daddy.""
I pulled back slightly.
"What?""
"Mom told me she put something important inside it before she died.""
Before I could ask another question, Vanessa appeared at the end of the hallway.
She had heard us.
Her face was pale.
May you like
And this time, she wasn't pretending to be confused.
"Daniel," she said quietly, "you need to listen to me before you open that box.""
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