That’s why I chose the daycare.
I stared at the sentence.
My stomach turned.
That’s why I chose the daycare.
The daycare.
Little Pines.
I had thought I chose it because of its allergy protocols.
But Grant had insisted on Little Pines.
He had said it was closer to his office.
He had said the teachers seemed experienced.
He had said Lucy would love it.
Why had he actually chosen it?
I heard the door handle move again.
“Nat.”
I quickly forwarded the emails to myself.
Then I took photographs of the screen.
I closed the laptop.
I unlocked the door.
Grant stood outside.
He looked at me.
Then at the desk.
“What were you doing?”
“Looking for Lucy’s medical records.”
His eyes narrowed.
“You could have asked me.”
“I didn’t think you’d give them to me.”
“What does that mean?”
I walked past him.
He grabbed my wrist.
Not hard.
But enough.
I looked down at his hand.
He released me immediately.
“I’m sorry.”
I pulled my arm away.
“Don’t touch me.”
His face changed.
“Nat…”
“I need to go to my mother’s.”
“You can’t drive like this.”
“I’ll take a taxi.”
“At four in the morning?”
“Yes.”
He stepped in front of me.
“You’re not leaving.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
He didn’t answer.
“Why can’t I leave?”
“I don’t want you alone.”
“Or you don’t want me talking to anyone?”
He went silent.
That was when I knew.
I walked around him.
He didn’t stop me.
I went upstairs.
Packed a bag.
Took Lucy’s stuffed rabbit.
Then I remembered the tiny white urn.
I couldn’t leave her behind.
I carried it downstairs.
Grant stood by the front door.
His face was pale.
“You’re really leaving?”
“I need time.”
“We’re married.”
“I know.”
“We’re supposed to be grieving together.”
I looked at him.
“We were.”
He flinched.
Then I left.
I didn’t go to my mother’s.
I went somewhere else.
My law office.
The building was empty, but I had access.
I locked myself inside a conference room and opened the files I had saved.
Then I called Paige.
She answered immediately.
“Are you safe?”
“Yes.”
“Is Grant with you?”
“No.”
She exhaled.
“Good.”
“Paige, I need you to tell me everything.”
There was silence.
Then she said,
“Lucy was scared of Vanessa.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
“How long had she known her?”
“About two months.”
“Did Vanessa ever pick her up?”
Paige hesitated.
“Three times.”
My chest tightened.
“You knew?”
“Grant gave permission.”
“I didn’t.”
“I know.”
“Then why didn’t you call me?”
“I tried.”
“What?”
“I called the number listed on Lucy’s emergency file.”
“That was my number.”
“I know.”
“Nobody called me.”
Paige’s voice became quiet.
“Someone changed the emergency contact number.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Your number was still there, but someone had added another number as the primary contact.”
“Whose?”
“Vanessa’s.”
I closed my eyes.
“Paige.”
“Yes?”
“Why did Lucy say ‘milk lady’?”
Paige inhaled.
“Because Vanessa used to bring her snacks.”
My eyes opened.
“What snacks?”
“Cookies.”
“Milk?”
“Yes.”
My stomach dropped.
“Paige, did Lucy ever eat them?”
“She said no.”
“Did Vanessa ever insist?”
“Once.”
“When?”
“The day before Lucy died.”
I gripped the phone.
“What happened?”
“Lucy refused the cookie.”
“Then what?”
“Vanessa became angry.”
“How angry?”
“Enough that I stepped in.”
My voice became barely audible.
“What did Vanessa say?”
Paige paused.
Then whispered:
“She told Lucy that if she kept being difficult, Mommy would disappear.”
I couldn’t speak.
Paige continued.
“I asked Vanessa to leave.”
“And Grant?”
“He came ten minutes later.”
My blood ran cold.
“Did he say anything?”
“He asked why I had upset Vanessa.”
I felt tears filling my eyes.
“Paige…”
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
I wiped my face.
“Don’t apologize.”
Then Paige said something else.
Something that changed the entire case.
“Natalie, there’s one thing I haven’t told you.”
“What?”
“Lucy left something with me.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“A drawing.”
“Of what?”
“A woman.”
“Vanessa?”
“No.”
Paige’s voice trembled.
“Of your husband.”
I couldn’t breathe.
“What did she draw?”
“A house.”
“And Grant?”
“He was standing outside it.”
“Was Lucy in the drawing?”
“No.”
“Then who was inside?”
Paige was silent.
“Three people.”
My stomach tightened.
“Who?”
“Your husband.”
“Vanessa?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Paige whispered:
“Another little girl.”
I felt the room tilt.
“What little girl?”
“I don’t know.”
“Paige, please.”
“I didn’t understand it at first.”
“What did Lucy say?”
Paige took a breath.
“She pointed at the drawing and said…”
Another pause.
“That’s Daddy’s other family.”
I couldn’t move.
My daughter’s words echoed in my head.
Daddy’s other family.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number.
There was no text.
Only a photograph.
I opened it.
It was a picture of Grant.
Standing beside Vanessa.
And between them…
was a little girl.
She looked about five years old.
She had Grant’s eyes.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
You have been asking the wrong question, Natalie.
I typed:
Who are you?
The reply came immediately.
Someone who tried to warn Lucy.
Then:
And someone who knows why your husband needed her gone.
