Chapter 6 - SIGN-OUT
Amelia reached the school in twelve minutes.
Joanna was already arguing with the principal.
Maisie was not in the room.
Thank God.
The principal, Mrs. Rowe, stood behind her desk with a security officer near the door.
Joanna turned when Amelia entered.
“This is ridiculous.”
Amelia ignored her.
“Where is Maisie?”
“In the counselor’s office.”
Mrs. Rowe looked apologetic.
“She’s safe.”
Joanna threw up her hands.
“I have picked her up dozens of times.”
“You were removed from the authorization list this morning.”
Joanna stared at Amelia.
“You did that?”
“Yes.”
“You’re using your daughter to punish me.”
“No.
I’m protecting my daughter from someone who told her police would take her away.”
Joanna lowered her voice.
“I came to apologize.”
“You called me twelve times this morning.
You could have said that.”
“You weren’t answering.”
“So you came to her school.”
“I love her.”
Amelia looked straight at her.
“Then why is she afraid of you?”
Joanna flinched.
It was small.
But real.
Then anger returned.
“She is afraid because you are telling her to be.”
Mrs. Rowe interrupted.
“I think it would be best if Ms. Mercer leaves now.”
Joanna looked at the principal.
“You don’t understand the family situation.”
“I understand the custody authorization.”
“I’m her aunt.”
“And her mother has revoked pickup permission.”
Joanna’s mouth tightened.
Amelia watched her sister realize that a familiar door had closed.
For years, Joanna had moved freely through Amelia’s life.
School pickups.
House keys.
Holiday plans.
Medical forms.
Emergency contacts.
She had been everywhere because Amelia believed family access was the same thing as family trust.
It wasn’t.
Joanna walked toward Amelia.
When she was close enough that only Amelia could hear, she whispered, “You have no idea what happens if you keep digging.”
Amelia felt a chill.
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s advice.”
“About what?”
Joanna smiled faintly.
“Daniel.”
Amelia stopped breathing.
Joanna turned and walked out.
The name stayed behind.
Daniel.
Amelia’s dead husband.
Maisie’s father.
A man Joanna had barely mentioned in years.
Amelia found Maisie in the counselor’s office coloring a picture of a yellow house.
The moment she saw Amelia, she ran into her arms.
“Mommy.”
“I’m here.”
“Aunt Joanna said you knew she was coming.”
“I didn’t.”
Maisie pressed her face against Amelia’s shoulder.
Amelia held her tightly.
Then Maisie whispered, “She told me Daddy would be disappointed in you.”
Amelia closed her eyes.
That evening, after Maisie was asleep, Amelia opened the box containing Daniel’s old papers.
She had not touched it in years.
At the bottom, beneath insurance forms and hospital records, she found an envelope with Joanna’s handwriting.
Daniel - Private.
Amelia’s hands began to shake.
The envelope had already been opened.
Inside was a photocopy of a bank transfer.
$75,000.
From Daniel’s business account.
May you like
To Joanna.
Dated eleven days before Daniel died.
