Chapter 2: The Photograph
Nia spent ten minutes staring at the photograph.
The woman beside Marcus was blonde, maybe in her late thirties.
Marcus was smiling.
Not his polite smile.
His real smile.
The one Nia knew from childhood.
The photograph had been taken outside a bank she recognized immediately.
First National.
The same bank where her father had handled most of his business affairs.
Nia turned the photograph over again.
*Ask your father why.*
She looked toward the hallway.
Vanessa was downstairs.
Nia slipped the photograph into her pocket.
She didn't know who had left it.
She didn't know why.
But she knew one thing.
She wasn't going to ask her father while Vanessa was within earshot.
At dinner, Marcus talked about work.
Nia barely heard him.
“You're quiet tonight,” he said.
Nia looked up.
“Sorry.””
Marcus lowered his fork.
“What's wrong?””
“Nothing.””
Marcus pointed at her.
“There it is again.””
Nia smiled weakly.
“I'm just tired.””
Vanessa sat across from them, eating silently.
Marcus studied his daughter.
“You sure?””
“Yes.””
Vanessa suddenly spoke.
“Maybe she's just adjusting to being back home.””
Nia looked at her.
Vanessa smiled.
“It's an adjustment for everyone.””
Marcus nodded.
“That's true.””
Nia didn't answer.
After dinner, she waited until Vanessa went upstairs.
Then she found Marcus in the garage.
He was sorting through a box of old tools.
“Dad?””
Marcus looked over.
“Hey, sweetheart.””
Nia held up the photograph.
His face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
He stopped moving.
“Where did you get that?””
Nia swallowed.
“It was in a box outside my room.””
Marcus reached for it.
Nia pulled it back.
“Who is she?””
Marcus looked toward the garage door.
“Nia—”
“Who is she?””
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“Her name is Claire.””
“Claire who?””
“Claire Bennett.””
Nia waited.
Marcus exhaled.
“She used to work at the bank.””
“Used to?””
“Yes.””
“Why were you with her?””
“It wasn't what you're thinking.””
Nia's voice became quieter.
“I don't even know what I'm thinking.””
Marcus sat down on a wooden stool.
“Claire helped me with something.””
“What?””
“Financial paperwork.””
Nia stared at him.
“What kind of paperwork?””
Marcus looked at the floor.
“Something concerning your mother.””
Nia went still.
Her mother had died when Nia was sixteen.
For years, Marcus had avoided discussing the circumstances surrounding her mother’s final year.
Nia had learned to stop asking.
Now her father had connected a stranger to her mother.
“What did Claire help you with?””
Marcus stood.
“I'll explain everything.””
“When?””
“Soon.””
Nia laughed bitterly.
“You just told me something about Mom that I've never heard before, and you're saying soon?””
Marcus looked at his daughter.
“Please trust me.””
Nia's eyes burned.
“I trusted you enough to come home.””
Marcus reached for her hand.
“Nia.””
She stepped back.
“Does Vanessa know about Claire?””
His silence answered for him.
Nia stared at him.
“She doesn't.””
“No.””
“Why?””
Marcus looked exhausted.
“Because some things are better left in the past.””
Nia shook her head.
“That's what people say when the past is about to become a problem.””
She turned and walked toward the house.
Behind her, Marcus called her name.
“Nia, wait.””
She stopped.
Marcus's voice dropped.
“Don't show that photograph to Vanessa.””
Nia turned around.
“Why?””
Before Marcus could answer, the garage door opened.
Vanessa stood there.
She looked from Marcus to Nia.
Then her eyes landed on the photograph in Nia's hand.
The color drained from her face.
“What is that?””
Nia watched Vanessa carefully.
“You know Claire.””
Vanessa said nothing.
Marcus stepped between them.
“Vanessa—”
“How did you get that?””
Nia's heart began pounding.
“You know her.””
Vanessa's eyes stayed on the photograph.
May you like
Then she whispered something that made Nia's blood run cold.
“Claire was never supposed to come back.””
