Chapter 6: The Man in the Photographs
My father enlarged the first photograph.
Vanessa stood outside a luxury department store, smiling at a tall man in a dark suit.
He was holding the door open for her.
In the next photograph, they were sitting together at an outdoor café.
The third showed Vanessa handing him a shopping bag while laughing.
I stared at the pictures.
"Who is he?""
Dad didn't answer immediately.
He scrolled through the messages from Uncle Michael.
There was another photograph.
This time, the man was standing beside Vanessa's car, his hand resting on her shoulder.
Dad's jaw tightened.
"His name is Richard.""
"Do you know him?""
"Not personally.""
He called his brother again.
Michael answered almost immediately.
"Daniel, did you see the pictures?""
"Yes. Where did you get them?""
"I was having lunch near the shopping center. I recognized Vanessa, so I took a closer look.""
"Do you know Richard?""
"He's a financial adviser. I've seen him at a few business events.""
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Why would Vanessa be shopping with him?""
Michael hesitated.
"There's something else you should know.""
"What?""
"I saw them get into her car together. They weren't acting like people who had just met.""
Dad ended the call.
I sat silently.
I didn't know whether Vanessa was having an affair, but I knew the pictures had hurt my father.
"Maybe it's nothing," I said softly.
He looked at me.
"I hope so.""
The next morning, Dad confronted her.
Vanessa was preparing coffee when he placed the photographs on the kitchen counter.
"Who's Richard?""
Her hand froze around the coffee pot.
"What?""
"Richard. The man you spent yesterday afternoon shopping with.""
She glanced at the photographs.
Then she laughed.
"Are you spying on me now?""
"No. My brother happened to see you.""
Vanessa placed the coffee pot down.
"He's a friend.""
"A friend who takes you shopping?""
"He's helping me with some financial matters.""
Dad raised an eyebrow.
"What financial matters?""
"That's none of your business.""
Daniel stared at her.
"You've been telling me we don't have enough money. You've been spending household funds without explaining where they go. Now you're meeting another man to discuss finances?""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Richard understands business. Unlike you, he listens to me.""
Dad nodded slowly.
"Is that why you needed the $18,500?""
Her expression changed.
"What are you talking about?""
"The money you transferred into your personal account. Did Richard help you manage it?""
She looked away.
"I don't have to explain every transaction to you.""
Dad took a breath.
"Then perhaps you should explain why you told the school I couldn't afford my daughter's education.""
Vanessa slammed her coffee cup onto the counter.
"Because I was angry!""
"That isn't an answer.""
"You made me feel powerless!""
Daniel stared at her.
"By buying my daughter shoes?""
"By making me look like a terrible mother!""
He shook his head.
"You did that yourself when you handed her an old singlet and told her she wasn't your responsibility.""
Vanessa's face turned red.
"You're never going to let that go, are you?""
"No. Because she hasn't forgotten it either.""
I stood at the kitchen doorway, listening.
Vanessa noticed me.
"Why are you always standing around listening?""
I stepped back.
Dad turned toward her.
"Leave her alone.""
Vanessa threw her hands up.
"Fine! Everything is always about Emma!""
Dad looked exhausted.
"That's enough for today.""
He left for work shortly afterward.
I thought the argument was over.
But that afternoon, something unexpected happened.
I was doing homework in my bedroom when Madison knocked.
"Emma?""
I looked up.
"Come in.""
She entered slowly and closed the door.
"Can I ask you something?""
"Sure.""
She sat on the edge of my bed.
"Are you really going to make Mom leave?""
I shook my head.
"No. That's not my decision.""
"But Dad keeps saying things will change.""
I put down my pencil.
"Madison, I don't want your mom to leave because of me.""
She looked at the floor.
"She says you're taking all the money.""
I sighed.
"I'm not taking anything from you.""
"Then why did Dad stop buying us things?""
I thought carefully before answering.
"Has he stopped buying food?""
"No.""
"Has he stopped paying your school fees?""
"No.""
"Does he still buy you clothes when you need them?""
She nodded.
"Then you're not being neglected. He's just not buying everything your mom asks for.""
Madison was quiet.
Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small photograph.
It was a picture of me, Madison, and Tyler taken at Christmas two years earlier.
We were all smiling.
"I liked it better when we were friends," she whispered.
My throat tightened.
"Me too.""
She hugged me unexpectedly.
For a moment, I hugged her back.
Then she pulled away.
"Mom says we're going to stay with Grandma for a while.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"She said Dad can't control her anymore.""
Before I could ask another question, Madison hurried out.
That evening, Dad returned home and found a message waiting on the dining table.
It was from Vanessa.
I'm taking the children to my mother's house tomorrow. Don't try to stop me. Since you've decided Emma is the only child who matters, you can enjoy your new life with her.
Dad read it twice.
Then he called Vanessa.
She didn't answer.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Finally, he called her mother, Mrs. Evelyn.
After several minutes, he ended the call.
"What's happening?"" I asked.
He looked at me.
"Vanessa says she's taking Madison and Tyler away.""
"Will they come back?""
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
He pulled out a chair and sat down.
For the first time, I realized that the consequences of Vanessa's behavior weren't only affecting me.
They were affecting the two children who had grown up beside me.
Later that night, I heard Dad speaking to Uncle Michael on the phone.
"Yes, I want you to look into Richard.""
A pause.
"No, I'm not interested in rumors. I want facts.""
Another pause.
Then Dad said something that made me stop outside his bedroom.
"Especially if he has anything to do with the money Vanessa transferred out of my account.""
I returned to my room and closed the door.
The next morning, Vanessa was gone.
So were Madison and Tyler.
But she had left something behind.
A large envelope sat on the dining table with my father's name written across it.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Dad read it standing beside the window.
His face slowly turned pale.
At the bottom of the letter, Vanessa had written:
If you want to know why I treated Emma differently, ask your daughter what her mother left behind.
My father looked up at me.
"Emma...""
May you like
His voice was unsteady.
"There's something about your mother's inheritance that I think you need to know.""
