Chapter 2: The Rules Nobody Told Me About
Vanessa snatched the container from my hand.
"It's meal preparation.""
I looked at the sticky note.
"Meal preparation?""
"Yes. I was saving food for tomorrow.""
"Why does it say Nia's name?""
"Because she has been difficult about eating lately.""
I stared at her.
"Then why does it say 'if she behaves'?""
She peeled the note off and crumpled it.
"Marcus, you're making something out of nothing.""
I didn't argue.
I had spent too many years allowing arguments to end whenever Vanessa became irritated.
This time, I wanted answers.
"Where are the children?""
"Ava is upstairs. Caleb is probably in his room.""
"Good. I want to talk to all three of them tomorrow.""
Vanessa's head snapped toward me.
"Why?""
"Because I need to understand what's happening.""
"You're not conducting an investigation in my house.""
"Our house," I repeated.
She shook her head.
"Fine. Our house. But I'm telling you now, if you undermine me in front of the children, don't expect me to keep managing everything.""
I walked away.
That night, I barely slept.
Vanessa went to bed around ten.
I stayed in the downstairs study, staring at the framed photographs on the bookshelf.
There was one from Nia's fifth birthday.
She was wearing a yellow dress, holding a pink cupcake, and sitting on Vanessa's lap.
Vanessa was smiling.
I remembered taking that photograph.
I remembered thinking how lucky Nia was to have a woman who loved her so much.
Had something changed?
Or had I simply never looked closely enough?
At 11:38 p.m., I heard footsteps.
I opened the study door.
Nia was standing in the hallway.
She was wearing an oversized T-shirt and holding a glass of water.
"Sweetheart?""
She jumped.
"Sorry, Dad.""
"Why are you apologizing?""
"I didn't know you were awake.""
I smiled gently.
"You're allowed to walk through your own house.""
She nodded.
Then she looked toward the kitchen.
"Can I get something to eat?""
The question hit me harder than it should have.
"Of course. Are you hungry?""
She nodded.
I followed her into the kitchen.
She opened the refrigerator and reached for a container of strawberries.
Then she stopped.
"Can I?""
I looked at her.
"Can you what?""
"Have these?""
"Nia, you never have to ask me for permission to eat food in this house.""
She glanced toward the staircase.
"Mom says snacks are for after homework.""
"It's almost midnight.""
"I know.""
"Have some strawberries.""
She took three.
Just three.
I opened the refrigerator again and brought out the leftover chicken, vegetables, and a container of mashed potatoes.
"Would you like some of this?""
She hesitated.
"Is it okay?""
I felt my throat tighten.
"Yes.""
I heated a plate for her.
While the microwave hummed, I leaned against the counter.
"Can I ask you another question?""
She nodded.
"Do you usually eat at night?""
"Sometimes.""
"Why?""
She shrugged.
"I'm hungry.""
"Does your mother know?""
Nia looked uncomfortable.
"She says if I eat after dinner, I'm sneaking food.""
The microwave beeped.
I placed the warm plate in front of her.
She picked up her fork.
For several minutes, she ate in silence.
Then she spoke.
"Mom says I'm getting too old to act like a baby.""
I pulled out the chair beside her.
"Wanting food isn't acting like a baby.""
"She says I should learn self-control.""
I looked at my daughter.
"Has anyone ever told you that you don't deserve to eat?""
Her fork stopped.
"No.""
"Has anyone ever said you have to earn dinner?""
She stared at her plate.
Then she whispered, "Yes.""
I didn't ask who.
I already knew.
The next morning, I made pancakes.
It was something I used to do on Saturdays when the children were younger.
Ava came downstairs first.
"Dad! Pancakes!""
"Chocolate chips or blueberries?""
"Both!""
Caleb appeared a minute later.
"Can I have three?""
"You can have four if you help me flip them.""
He grinned.
Vanessa entered the kitchen wearing her robe.
"What is all this?""
"Breakfast.""
"I can see that.""
She opened a cabinet and removed a coffee mug.
"You're spoiling them.""
I looked at the children.
"Everyone deserves a good breakfast.""
Nia appeared last.
She stood in the doorway.
"Morning, Dad.""
"Morning, sweetheart. Come sit.""
She glanced at Vanessa.
Then she approached the table.
I put a plate of pancakes in front of her.
Vanessa took a sip of coffee.
"Before everyone gets comfortable, I want to remind you that chores still need to be done.""
Ava groaned.
Caleb laughed.
Nia immediately put down her fork.
I noticed.
"What's wrong?""
"Nothing.""
"Eat.""
She picked up the fork again.
Vanessa set down her mug.
"Nia, after breakfast, I want you to clean the upstairs bathroom.""
I looked at her.
"Why Nia?""
"Because it's her turn.""
"She cleaned it last weekend.""
"Then she can do it again.""
Caleb spoke up.
"Mom, I haven't cleaned my bathroom in two weeks.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Don't involve yourself.""
He lowered his eyes.
I looked between them.
"Everybody has chores. Let's make a schedule so it's fair.""
Vanessa laughed.
"You're going to make a chore schedule now?""
"Yes.""
"Marcus, please.""
I pulled out my phone.
"I'll do it.""
Nia quietly ate another bite of pancake.
After breakfast, I went upstairs to find her.
Her bedroom was at the end of the hallway.
The door was slightly open.
I knocked.
"Can I come in?""
"Yes.""
She was sitting at her desk, arranging school notebooks.
I noticed that the room was unusually bare.
Her bookshelf had only a few books.
The small television I had bought her two Christmases earlier was gone.
So was the framed photograph of her mother.
I looked around.
"Did you move some things?""
Nia followed my gaze.
"Mom put the TV in the storage room.""
"Why?""
"She said I was watching too much television.""
"That's fine. But what happened to your picture?""
She looked toward the closet.
"I put it away.""
"Why?""
"Mom said it made Ava uncomfortable.""
I frowned.
The photograph was of Nia's biological mother, Danielle.
She had died when Nia was four.
The children knew she had another mother.
We had always spoken about Danielle with respect.
"Why would it make Ava uncomfortable?""
Nia shrugged.
"Mom said Ava wants this family to feel complete.""
I sat on the edge of the bed.
"Sweetheart, Danielle will always be your mother. Nothing changes that.""
Nia nodded.
Her eyes filled, but she quickly looked away.
I noticed a small notebook tucked beneath her pillow.
It was a pink spiral notebook with a broken cover.
"What's that?""
She immediately reached for it.
"Nothing.""
I didn't grab it.
"Okay.""
She slid it farther under the pillow.
I stood.
"Do you want to go out for lunch with me today?""
Her face brightened.
"Just us?""
"Just us.""
She smiled.
It was the first genuine smile I had seen from her since arriving home.
But before she could answer, Vanessa appeared in the doorway.
"Where are you two going?""
"Lunch.""
"Nia has things to do.""
"I'll be back by two.""
Vanessa looked at Nia.
"Did you finish your assignments?""
"Yes, Mom.""
"Don't lie.""
Nia's smile disappeared.
I stepped between them.
"She's going to lunch with her father.""
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
"Fine. Take her. Maybe she'll remember how to behave when she's around you.""
We left at noon.
At a small restaurant near the shopping center, Nia ordered a cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake.
Then she looked at me.
"Is that too much?""
I put down the menu.
"No.""
She smiled awkwardly.
"Okay.""
When the food arrived, she ate half the burger in less than five minutes.
I pretended not to notice.
We talked about school, her favorite books, and a science project she wanted to do.
For almost an hour, she seemed like a normal thirteen-year-old.
Then, while stirring her milkshake, she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Dad?""
"Yes?""
"Can I ask you something without you getting mad?""
"Always.""
"If I told you something bad about Mom, would you believe me?""
I slowly put down my glass.
"Yes.""
"Even if she says I'm lying?""
"Yes.""
Nia stared at the table.
"Promise?""
"I promise.""
She took a breath.
Then she reached into her backpack.
From the front pocket, she removed a folded piece of paper.
It was a printed school assignment.
At the top, someone had written in red ink:
MISSING WORK — FINAL WARNING.
But beneath the teacher's comments, Nia had written something in pencil.
A sentence that had nothing to do with mathematics.
I wish my dad knew why I am always hungry.
I read it twice.
Then I looked at my daughter.
"Why did you write this?""
She began crying.
"Because I didn't know who else to tell.""
I reached across the table and held her hand.
"Tell me now.""
She shook her head.
"Not here.""
"Okay.""
"Can we go somewhere private?""
"Of course.""
I paid the bill.
As we walked toward the car, Nia kept looking over her shoulder.
When I opened the passenger door, she stopped.
"Dad?""
"Yes?""
"Mom checks my backpack every night.""
I stared at her.
"Why?""
"She says I hide things.""
"Do you?""
Nia looked at me.
"Yes.""
"What things?""
She swallowed.
"My notebook.""
I remembered the pink spiral book under her pillow.
"What's in it?""
Nia's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Everything.""
Before I could ask another question, my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I answered.
"Hello?""
Her voice was sharp.
"Where are you?""
"With Nia.""
"Bring her home. Now.""
"Why?""
"Because I just checked her room.""
I glanced at Nia.
She had gone completely pale.
Vanessa continued.
May you like
"Marcus, you need to know what your daughter has been hiding from us.""
Then the call ended.
