Chapter 3 - The Letter Did Not Say Goodbye
Daniel opened the envelope at 12:14 that night.
Ava knew because she watched the clock.
Vanessa had wanted Ava upstairs.
Daniel refused.
“If Julia tied the letter to Ava keeping that picture, Ava stays.”
Vanessa sat in the chair farthest from them.
Daniel broke the seal.
Two sheets were inside.
One had his name.
The other said:
For Ava — when she is old enough to ask without someone answering for her.
Ava stared at that line.
Daniel did too.
Neither touched the second page.
He unfolded his.
Julia's handwriting was uneven.
Daniel read silently at first.
Then stopped.
Ava said:
“What?”
He shook his head.
“Dad.”
He handed her the page.
Vanessa stood.
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“She deserves to read it.”
Ava took the paper.
Daniel,
I came back because I don't want tonight to become the story we tell forever.
I am angry with you.
You are angry with me.
Neither of those things means I am leaving Ava.
I am going to Rachel's tonight because I don't trust either of us to finish this argument without saying something worse.
If I am home tomorrow, burn this and let me tell you myself.
If something changes, Vanessa knows I came back.
She knows what I asked you to take back.
And she knows I did not leave this house planning to take our daughter from you.
Ava stopped reading.
Her eyes moved to her father.
Daniel looked ill.
Vanessa stared at the floor.
“What did you say?” Ava asked.
Daniel didn't answer.
She held up the letter.
“She says she wanted you to take something back.”
Daniel rubbed his mouth.
Vanessa said quietly:
“Daniel.”
He turned.
“Don't.”
It was the first anger he had shown her that night that did not need volume.
Ava looked at the second sheet.
Her name.
She reached toward it.
Then stopped.
“Did Mom write this the same night?”
Vanessa nodded.
“Did you read it?”
“No.”
Ava studied her face.
“You expect me to believe you hid it twelve years and never read it?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she sealed it before she handed it to me.”
“So?”
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
“So I failed her in enough other ways.”
Ava looked down at the envelope.
Daniel stood.
“I'm calling Rachel.”
Vanessa's head snapped up.
“No.”
Daniel laughed without humor.
“You've lost the right to tell me who I call.”
“That's not what I mean.”
“Then explain.”
Vanessa looked at Ava.
“Rachel doesn't know the letter exists.”
“Apparently nobody knows anything in this family unless you approve it.”
“That is not fair.”
Ava stared at her.
Vanessa heard herself.
She looked away.
Daniel took out his phone.
It was nearly midnight.
He didn't care.
Rachel Monroe answered on the fourth ring.
Daniel put it on speaker.
A sleepy woman's voice said:
“Daniel?”
“Rachel.”
Silence.
Then:
“Is Ava okay?”
Ava noticed immediately.
Not hello.
Not what happened.
Is Ava okay?
Daniel said:
“She’s here.”
Rachel's voice sharpened.
“What's wrong?”
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“We found something Julia left.”
Nothing came from the speaker for several seconds.
“What?”
“A letter.”
Rachel exhaled.
“Where?”
“In the fireplace wall.”
Another silence.
Then Rachel said:
“Vanessa finally gave it to you?”
Ava looked at Vanessa.
Daniel went still.
“You knew?”
“No.”
“Then why did you say that?”
Rachel sounded fully awake now.
“Because Julia called me that night.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Daniel sat down.
“What did she tell you?”
“She said she'd left something with Vanessa in case she lost her nerve.”
Daniel stared at Vanessa.
“What else?”
Rachel hesitated.
“Daniel, it's midnight.”
“What else?”
Rachel's voice changed.
“She said she was coming to my apartment.”
“I know.”
“She said she was coming alone.”
Daniel said nothing.
Rachel continued:
“And she made me promise that if anything happened between you two, I was never to let Ava grow up believing Julia tried to take her away from you.”
Ava watched her father.
May you like
Daniel's eyes closed.
Because that was exactly what he had believed.
