Chapter 3: I Heard What You Said
Vanessa stood in the kitchen doorway holding a dish towel.
Michael stood just inside the house.
Nobody moved.
Arthur's cane rested against his chair.
Evelyn was still seated at the table.
The smell of cold eggs and coffee hung in the air.
Michael looked from his parents to Vanessa.
Then back to his parents.
His voice was quiet.
“I forgot my folder.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“I—”
He held up the black leather folder.
“I came back for this.””
She stared at it.
“Oh.””
Michael walked toward the counter.
His footsteps sounded strangely loud.
One.
Two.
Three.
He placed the folder down.
Vanessa forced a smile.
“You scared me.””
Michael didn't smile back.
“Did I?””
She laughed softly.
“I thought something happened.””
“Something did.””
Vanessa's face tightened.
“What do you mean?””
Michael looked at his father.
Arthur wouldn't meet his eyes.
That told him enough.
Michael turned to Evelyn.
“Mom?””
Evelyn's lips parted.
Vanessa quickly stepped between them.
“Michael, this is being blown completely out of proportion.””
He looked at her.
“I heard you.””
“I was frustrated.””
“You told them to clean the kitchen.””
“They were making a mess.””
Michael looked toward the sink.
“There are three plates.””
Vanessa glanced at the dishes.
“I know.””
“You told them they don't get waited on.””
“I didn't mean it like that.””
“You told my mother she could have bread for lunch.””
Vanessa's eyes flicked toward Evelyn.
“She wasn't hungry.””
Evelyn immediately shook her head.
“I was.””
Vanessa turned.
“Evelyn—”
Michael's voice cut through the room.
“Don't.””
Vanessa stopped.
Michael walked over to his mother.
He crouched beside her chair.
His expression softened.
“Mom.””
Evelyn finally looked at him.
Her eyes were wet.
“How long?””
Vanessa's breath caught.
“Michael—”
He didn't look at her.
“How long has this been happening?””
Evelyn's hands trembled.
Arthur answered first.
“It doesn't matter.””
Michael looked at him.
“It matters to me.””
Arthur sighed.
“Son…”
“How long?””
Evelyn wiped beneath one eye.
“Every time you leave.””
Michael went completely still.
The sentence seemed to empty the room of oxygen.
“Every time?”” he repeated.
Evelyn nodded.
Michael looked at the floor.
Then at the sink.
Then at Vanessa.
“How long?””
Vanessa folded her arms.
“This is ridiculous.””
Michael slowly stood.
“What did you just say?””
“I said you're making this into something it isn't.””
“You threatened my parents.””
“I never threatened them.””
“My mother just told me you do this every time I leave.””
“She misunderstood me.””
Evelyn flinched.
Michael saw it.
His face hardened.
“Don't tell my mother what she misunderstood.””
Vanessa's voice rose.
“I have done everything for this family!””
Michael stared at her.
“Everything?””
“Yes.””
“You kissed me goodbye ten minutes ago and told me you were happy to take care of them.””
“I am.””
“No.””
Michael shook his head.
“You're not.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“You're really going to believe them over me?””
Michael didn't answer.
She pointed toward Arthur.
“Your father has been rude to me since the day I moved him in.””
Arthur looked stunned.
“I have never been rude to you.””
Vanessa ignored him.
“And your mother constantly complains.””
Evelyn whispered, “I don't.””
“You do.””
“I don't.””
Michael looked at Vanessa.
“Stop.””
She stared at him.
“What?””
“Stop putting words in their mouths.””
Vanessa's expression shifted.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
Michael walked to the dining table.
He picked up Evelyn's plate.
There were only crumbs left.
He looked at the dry bread sitting beside it.
His jaw tightened.
“Mom, did you eat?””
Evelyn hesitated.
“I had some.””
“How much?””
She didn't answer.
Arthur spoke softly.
“She gave us the plates back for about thirty seconds.””
Michael looked at him.
Arthur's eyes lowered.
“She took them away.””
Michael closed his eyes.
Vanessa rushed forward.
“Michael, listen to me.””
He raised one hand.
“I'm listening.””
“I didn't know they were going to complain.””
“They're not complaining.””
“You don't know what it's like.””
Michael opened his eyes.
“What isn't?””
“To have two people in your house who need constant help.””
Arthur's voice became cold.
“We never asked for your help.””
Vanessa turned on him.
“You live here!””
“And you agreed to that.””
“I agreed because Michael begged me.””
Michael stared at her.
“I begged you?””
“You know you did.””
“I asked if you were comfortable.””
“And I said yes.””
“Then why are you punishing them?””
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Michael walked toward the hallway.
“Where are you going?””
“My parents' room.””
“Why?””
“To see something.””
Vanessa followed.
“You don't trust me now?””
Michael stopped.
He turned.
“I trusted you completely.””
Her eyes filled.
“Then trust me.””
He looked at her for a long moment.
“I can't.””
Vanessa's expression collapsed.
Michael walked past her.
Arthur looked at Evelyn.
Evelyn whispered, “Michael…”
He turned back.
“What?””
She looked terrified.
“There is something else.””
Vanessa suddenly stepped forward.
“Evelyn.””
Michael's eyes moved to his mother.
“What else?””
Evelyn gripped the edge of the table.
Arthur reached for her hand.
Vanessa's voice became strangely soft.
“Your mother is confused.””
Evelyn looked at Michael.
“No.””
Michael moved closer.
“What else, Mom?””
She swallowed.
Then she reached beneath the lavender cardigan.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled out a folded piece of paper.
Michael took it.
He unfolded it.
His eyes moved across the page.
His face changed.
“Where did you get this?””
Evelyn looked at Vanessa.
“I found it in the trash.””
Michael looked down again.
At the bottom of the page was his name.
And beneath it was a signature that wasn't his.
Michael slowly lifted his eyes toward his wife.
“Vanessa…”
She took one step backward.
“I can explain.””
Michael's fingers tightened around the paper.
May you like
“Why is my signature on a document I never signed?””
Would you like Chapter 4 to reveal what the document says, or focus first on Vanessa trying to explain the forged signature?