Chapter 6 - The Aunt Who Never Trusted HerRachel Bennett arrived at the Mercer house carrying a small pink suitcase and an expression Daniel remembered from Claire's funeral.
She was forty, an emergency-room nurse, and the only person in Claire's family who had never pretended to like Vanessa.
It was Wednesday afternoon.
Rachel had driven from Annapolis after Daniel called and asked if Elsie could stay with her for a few days.
Vanessa had not been told.
That had been deliberate.
Daniel opened the door.
Rachel looked at his face.
"You look terrible."
"Good to see you, too."
She walked past him.
"Where's Elsie?"
"Upstairs."
"Does she know I'm coming?"
"Yes."
Before Rachel reached the staircase, Elsie appeared at the top.
"Aunt Rachel!"
The little girl came running.
Rachel crouched and caught her in both arms.
"Oh, sweetheart."
Elsie buried her face in Rachel's shoulder.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Daniel watched them.
He had spent days trying to get Elsie to smile.
Rachel had managed it simply by arriving.
"Are we having a sleepover?" Elsie asked.
"Three whole nights, if your daddy agrees."
Elsie looked toward Daniel.
He nodded.
Her smile widened.
Then she glanced over his shoulder.
"Is Vanessa here?"
"No," Daniel said.
"Good."
The word was soft.
But he heard it.
Rachel heard it, too.
Neither reacted.
They spent the next hour packing Elsie's favorite pajamas, a picture book Claire used to read, and a stuffed rabbit with one loose ear.
Rachel found the rabbit beneath the pillow.
"Still keeping Mr. Buttons?"
Elsie nodded solemnly.
"He's brave."
"Is he?"
"He doesn't tell secrets."
Rachel looked at Daniel.
The expression passed between them without a word.
Downstairs, while Elsie colored at the kitchen island, Rachel pulled Daniel aside.
"What happened at the mall?"
He told her.
Everything.
Including the slap.
Rachel closed her eyes.
"You hit the person who caught her?"
"I know."
"Do you?"
Daniel swallowed.
"I've watched the video more times than I can count."
"Then you know watching it isn't the same as taking responsibility."
He said nothing.
Rachel lowered her voice.
"Has Elsie told you she's afraid of Vanessa?"
"She hasn't used those words."
"That's not what I asked."
Daniel looked toward the kitchen.
Elsie was coloring a rabbit blue.
"She doesn't want to be alone with her."
Rachel's jaw tightened.
"Then why has she been?"
The question struck him harder than any accusation on the internet.
Because he had been busy.
Because Vanessa handled the schedules.
Because he had mistaken managing a household for loving a child.
Because believing his new wife made life easier than asking painful questions.
"I thought Vanessa loved her," he whispered.
Rachel studied him.
"Maybe she loves what being Elsie's stepmother gives her."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Access to your life, Daniel. Your money. Your family's name."
He bristled.
"You've never liked her."
"No."
"Why?"
Rachel looked away.
"Because Claire didn't."
Daniel went still.
"Claire never met Vanessa."
"Not socially."
He frowned.
Rachel hesitated.
Then Elsie called from the kitchen.
"Aunt Rachel, can I have the blue marker?"
Rachel stepped away.
"We'll talk when she's not listening."
That evening, Elsie left with Rachel.
Daniel stood beside the driveway while Rachel buckled the child into her car seat.
"Daddy?"
He approached the window.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Are you mad because I told?"
His breath caught.
"No."
"Vanessa said grown-ups get mad when kids tell secrets."
Daniel knelt beside the open window.
"Listen to me. You can tell me anything. Even when it's something I don't want to hear."
Elsie examined his face carefully.
"Promise?"
He wanted to promise he would always believe her.
But he had already broken that promise without ever making it.
Instead, he said, "I promise I'll listen. And if I don't understand, I'll keep listening."
Elsie thought about that.
Then she nodded.
Rachel drove away.
Daniel watched until the taillights disappeared.
When he returned inside, Vanessa was standing in the hallway.
She had come home through the garage.
"Where's Elsie?"
"With Rachel."
Vanessa stared.
"Without telling me?"
"She's her aunt."
"I'm her stepmother."
"And I'm her father."
Something in his voice made Vanessa hesitate.
Daniel walked toward his office.
She followed.
"Are you punishing me?"
"I'm making sure Elsie has somewhere she feels safe."
"Safe from me?"
He turned.
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
Daniel opened his laptop.
"Vanessa, did you visit Briarfield Mall two weeks before Saturday?"
Her face changed.
"What?"
"Did you ask mall security how long they keep camera recordings?"
She placed a hand against the doorframe.
"I was planning a charity event."
"What charity event?"
"The spring donor reception."
"Where is it scheduled?"
She hesitated.
"Daniel, I don't have every detail memorized."
"Because I've checked the community relations calendar. There is no reception at that mall."
Vanessa's lips parted.
For the first time since Saturday, she seemed unable to find the right expression.
Then her phone rang.
She glanced at the screen.
Thomas Vale.
Daniel saw the name.
"Answer it."
"What?"
"Put it on speaker."
Vanessa silenced the call.
"You're acting paranoid."
"Maybe."
He walked past her.
"But for once, I'm checking."
Upstairs, Vanessa waited until she heard the office door close.
Then she called Thomas back.
"He knows about the mall visit."
Thomas said nothing for several seconds.
Finally, he asked, "Does he know about the earlier transaction?"
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"No."
"Then don't let him find it."
"What earlier transaction?"
A voice spoke from the hallway.
Daniel.
Vanessa turned.
May you like
He was standing behind her.
And this time, he had heard enough to know that the two people he trusted most were keeping the same secret.
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