Chapter 2: The Empty House
Daniel didn't speak during the drive home.
Lily sat in the back seat, still wearing her pink hoodie. Her backpack rested beside her, and her little fingers kept rubbing the edge of its zipper.
Every few minutes, she looked at her father through the rearview mirror.
“Daddy?””
“Yes, sweetheart?””
“Are you angry with Mommy?””
Daniel tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
The traffic light turned red.
He looked at his daughter in the mirror.
“I'm upset about what happened, baby. But none of this is your fault.””
“Did Mommy do something bad?””
Daniel took a breath.
“Mommy made a choice that hurt us.””
Lily looked down.
“Did she choose the man?””
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
The light turned green.
“Yes,” he finally said.
“She did.””
Lily pressed her lips together.
Then came the question that nearly broke him.
“Did I do something wrong?””
Daniel pulled the car over.
He turned off the engine and twisted around in his seat.
“No. Lily, look at Daddy.””
She lifted her eyes.
“You didn't do anything wrong. Not one thing. You are the best thing that ever happened to me.””
“Then why didn't Mommy come?””
Daniel reached back and took her little hand.
“Sometimes grown-ups make decisions they have to answer for. But you never have to earn someone's love by being good enough.””
Lily nodded, although she clearly didn't understand.
Daniel waited until she stopped crying before starting the car again.
When they reached the house, the familiar white front door looked strangely different.
It was the same house where Lily had learned to walk.
The same house where Vanessa had decorated the Christmas tree every December.
The same house where Daniel had once danced barefoot with his wife in the kitchen while dinner burned on the stove.
He carried Lily inside.
Her little pink shoes dangled against his trousers.
“Can we have dinner?”” she asked.
“Of course.””
“Can Mommy come?””
Daniel paused.
“Not tonight, sweetheart.””
Lily lowered her head.
He kissed her forehead and carried her upstairs.
After changing her clothes, he made her favorite meal: buttered pasta with chicken nuggets and sliced strawberries.
He placed everything on the small dining table.
Lily stared at the empty chair opposite her.
“That's Mommy's seat.””
Daniel followed her gaze.
“I know.””
“Should we save her some?””
He picked up a fork and gently placed it beside Lily's plate.
“Let's just eat our dinner tonight.””
She ate three bites.
Then she asked if he could sit beside her instead of across the table.
So he moved his chair.
They finished dinner without much conversation.
Later, Daniel helped her brush her teeth and tucked her into bed.
“Can you tell me a story?”” Lily whispered.
“Which one?””
“The princess and the castle.””
Daniel smiled faintly.
He had read that story so many times he could almost recite it without opening the book.
He sat on the edge of her bed.
“Once upon a time, there was a little princess who lived in a beautiful castle…”
“Was her mommy there?””
Daniel looked down at the pages.
“Yes,” he answered softly.
“She was.””
Lily thought about that.
“Was her daddy there too?””
“He was.””
“Did they love her?””
Daniel's voice became quieter.
“More than anything.””
Lily reached for his hand.
“Then I want that story.””
Daniel continued reading.
When he reached the final page, she was already asleep.
He remained beside her for several minutes, listening to her breathing.
Then he stood and carefully closed the bedroom door.
Downstairs, his phone began vibrating.
Vanessa.
He stared at the screen.
The first call ended.
Then another came.
Then a third.
Finally, a message appeared.
*Vanessa:* Daniel, please answer. We need to talk.
He placed the phone on the kitchen counter.
Another message arrived.
*Vanessa:* You embarrassed me today. You had no right to threaten Marcus.
Daniel read it twice.
Not one question about Lily.
Not one apology.
He opened their family photo album on his phone.
There was a picture from Lily's fourth birthday. Vanessa was holding the cake while Daniel stood behind their daughter, both of them smiling.
Another showed the three of them at the beach.
Another showed Vanessa kissing Daniel's cheek in their kitchen.
He remembered taking that photograph.
She had laughed and told him to stop working and enjoy his family.
He locked the screen.
Then his phone rang again.
This time it was his older sister, Rebecca.
“Daniel?””
“Hey.””
“Rebecca called me,” she said.
“She said she heard something happened.””
Daniel leaned against the kitchen counter.
“Vanessa was with another man. Lily saw them.””
There was silence.
Then Rebecca asked, “Where is Vanessa now?””
“With him, I assume.””
“Oh, Daniel…”
“I don't want to talk about her right now.””
“Then don't. Tell me about Lily.””
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
“She keeps asking why her mother didn't come home.””
Rebecca exhaled.
“I'll come over tomorrow.””
“You don't have to.””
“I know I don't have to. I'm coming because you're my brother.””
After they hung up, Daniel finally opened Vanessa's messages again.
There were seven.
The latest one said:
*Vanessa:* I'm coming home. Don't make any decisions without speaking to me.
Daniel looked at the empty dining chair.
Then he typed a reply.
*Daniel:* Lily is asleep. Please don't come tonight.
He placed the phone face down.
Upstairs, his daughter turned over in her sleep.
And downstairs, Daniel sat alone in the kitchen until the house clock struck midnight.
He thought the hardest part would be seeing his wife kiss another man.
He was wrong.
The hardest part was realizing that, even after everything, Lily still wanted her mother.
Then the doorbell rang.
Daniel looked at the clock.
12:17 a.m.
He walked to the front door and checked the security camera.
Vanessa was standing outside.
But she wasn't alone.
May you like
Marcus was beside her.
And he was carrying a suitcase.
