“She needs to learn you don’t get attention by making noise.”
Melissa ignored that one.
Arguments started.
One afternoon Melissa found Amelia eating a sandwich in the laundry room.
Margaret said Amelia had thrown food.
Amelia said she had not.
Melissa believed the child.
That evening Margaret told Melissa she was no longer needed.
Melissa said Daniel had to fire her.
Margaret replied:
“Daniel already approved.”
Melissa asked to speak with him.
Margaret claimed Daniel was in a confidential acquisition meeting and would contact her.
He never did.
Because Daniel never knew.
Margaret then sent Melissa an email from Daniel’s home office account.
Daniel’s account.
He stared at the desk computer.
“What did it say?”
Melissa forwarded it.
Daniel opened the message.
Melissa, Mom and I have decided to transition the children’s care back to family. Thank you for everything you did for us and especially for Laura during the last year of her life. I’m sorry I can’t call. Things are insane right now. Payroll will process two weeks severance.
—D
Daniel read it three times.
His hands began shaking.
“I didn’t write this.”
“I know that now.”
“Why didn’t you call?”
“I did.”
His chest tightened.
“What?”
“Six times.”
Daniel checked.
No memory.
Melissa continued:
“Your mother answered twice.”
“She said you didn’t want to discuss it.”
“The other calls went straight to voicemail.”
Daniel pulled up blocked numbers.
Melissa’s number was there.
His mother had blocked her.
From his phone.
“Why didn’t you come here?”
“I did.”
Daniel stopped.
“When?”
“September eighteenth.”
“That was the day you were in Atlanta.”
“Your mother wouldn’t let me inside.”
“She said I was harassing the family.”
Melissa’s voice broke.
“Amelia was standing at the upstairs window.”
“I could see her.”
“She was crying.”
Daniel covered his face.
“I should’ve done more.”
Melissa whispered.
“No.”
Daniel immediately lowered his hand.
“Do not do that.”
“What?”
“Do not take this onto yourself.”
“I trusted my mother.”
“I failed to verify what happened.”
“That is mine.”
Melissa became quiet.
Then:
“I should have called child services.”
Daniel flinched.
“Maybe.”
The honesty hurt.
“But you were being told I had chosen a family arrangement.”
“You didn’t know what happened after you left.”
“Neither did I.”
He looked toward the kitchen.
Amelia laughed at something Noah said.
Daniel’s throat tightened.
“Would you come back?”
Melissa did not answer immediately.
“To work?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not asking you to fix this.”
“I just…”
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“I need someone the kids already trust.”
“And I need to reduce travel.”
“Are you?”
“What?”
“Reducing it.”
Daniel stared.
“I have to.”
Melissa’s tone hardened slightly.
“You said that last year.”
He absorbed it.
Fair.
“I did.”
“And the company grew.”
“Yes.”
“And your mother offered more.”
“Yes.”
Melissa continued:
“If I come back, I am not becoming the person who makes it possible for you to disappear.”
Daniel sat very still.
Another truth.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“I think I do now.”