Chapter 5: The Photograph She Wanted Destroyed
Owen didn't sleep much that night.
At seven the following morning, he drove to Daniel's photography studio.
He had left Sadie with his sister, Rachel, who lived fifteen minutes away.
Tyler had asked to come along.
Owen initially refused.
But Tyler insisted.
"I need to see this too, Dad.""
Owen looked at him.
"Why?""
"Because Mom keeps telling me different things. I want to know what actually happened.""
Owen finally nodded.
The studio was quiet when they arrived.
Daniel greeted them at the reception desk.
"Mr. Owen. I saved the original files.""
He led them into a small editing room.
A large monitor displayed the photographs from the previous session.
"Your wife requested that I delete several images," Daniel explained.
"I didn't do that because the order hadn't been finalized.""
Owen leaned forward.
"Show me the one she didn't want me to see.""
Daniel clicked through the gallery.
The first image showed the family laughing.
The second showed Owen lifting Sadie into his arms.
The third showed Tyler making a silly face behind his sister.
Then Daniel opened another photograph.
Owen stopped breathing for a moment.
It showed Sadie sitting on the studio floor beside Marissa.
Marissa was holding a small wooden frame.
Inside the frame was a photograph of Owen's late mother, Eleanor.
Sadie had been smiling at it.
Her lips were moving.
The image itself looked harmless.
But the photograph immediately before it showed something else.
Marissa had taken the frame away from Sadie.
And she was pointing toward the exit.
Tyler leaned closer.
"What was happening here?""
Daniel opened the video clip attached to the session.
The audio was faint, but understandable.
Sadie's voice came first.
"That's Grandma Eleanor, right?""
Marissa answered.
"Yes.""
"Can I hold it?""
"Careful. It's expensive.""
Sadie held the frame against her chest.
"She looks like Daddy.""
"She was his mother.""
"Do you think she would have liked me?""
Marissa glanced toward the camera.
Then she said:
"She would have liked her real grandchildren.""
The video ended.
Owen stared at the screen.
Tyler looked away.
"Mom said that?""
Daniel nodded.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know whether you were aware.""
Owen rubbed his forehead.
"Why did she want this deleted?""
Daniel opened the email exchange.
There was Marissa's message.
*Please remove the video and all photographs showing the framed portrait. I don't want the children discussing it.*
Owen frowned.
"What does she mean, 'the children'?""
Daniel scrolled down.
A second message appeared.
*My husband believes Sadie should have access to his mother's belongings. I disagree. Those items should stay with Tyler and me.*
Owen looked at Daniel.
"What belongings?""
Daniel shrugged.
"I don't know, sir. That was the message she sent.""
Tyler suddenly spoke.
"Grandma's jewelry box.""
Owen turned.
"What?""
Tyler rubbed his palms against his jeans.
"Mom has it in her bedroom.""
Owen stared at him.
"How do you know?""
"She showed me last Christmas. She said Grandma left it for the family.""
Owen frowned.
"Your grandmother's jewelry box was never given to Marissa.""
Tyler looked confused.
"But she told me it was hers.""
Owen stood up.
"Daniel, could you send me the original photographs and the email chain?""
"Of course.""
On the drive home, Tyler barely spoke.
Finally, he said, "Dad?""
"Yes?""
"Do you remember Grandma's birthday party?""
Owen glanced at him.
"Which one?""
"The last one. Before she died.""
Owen nodded slowly.
Eleanor had passed away three years earlier.
Sadie had been only six.
"Why?""
"Mom told me Grandma had promised her something.""
"What?""
Tyler looked out the window.
"I don't know. She said Grandma wanted her to look after the family.""
Owen tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
"Did she say anything else?""
Tyler hesitated.
"She said Sadie didn't really know Grandma.""
Owen said nothing.
Because that wasn't true.
Sadie had spent countless afternoons with Eleanor.
She had learned to bake apple pies at her grandmother's kitchen counter.
She had slept in the spare bedroom during school holidays.
And Eleanor had once told Owen that Sadie had inherited her stubbornness.
When they reached home, Marissa's car was in the driveway.
Owen entered the house.
She was sitting at the dining table, drinking coffee.
"Where have you been?"" she asked.
"At the photography studio.""
Marissa's cup stopped halfway to her mouth.
"Why?""
"Daniel showed me the original photographs.""
Her face tightened.
"I thought we were done with that.""
"Why did you tell Sadie that my mother wouldn't have liked her?""
Marissa placed the cup down.
"I didn't say that.""
"I heard the recording.""
She stared at him.
Then she looked toward Tyler.
"You showed him?""
Tyler shook his head.
"The photographer did.""
Marissa stood up.
"That recording was private.""
"You said it in front of a camera.""
"I was having a difficult day.""
Owen looked at her.
"That little girl was asking whether her grandmother would have liked her.""
Marissa folded her arms.
"She was asking questions about something she didn't understand.""
"She understood enough to know you were being cruel.""
Marissa walked toward the staircase.
"I have work to do.""
"Not yet.""
She stopped.
Owen took a photograph from his jacket pocket.
It showed the wooden frame.
"Where is my mother's jewelry box?""
Marissa turned around.
For the first time, she looked genuinely frightened.
"Why are you asking me that?""
"Because Tyler says you have it.""
She stared at him.
Then she whispered:
"Your mother gave it to me.""
Owen shook his head.
"No, she didn't.""
Marissa's jaw tightened.
"She told me I could have it.""
"Then why did you tell everyone it belonged to the family?""
Marissa didn't answer.
Owen held up his phone.
"I called my sister this morning.""
Marissa's expression changed.
"What sister?""
"Rachel.""
He paused.
"She has the original letter from our mother.""
Marissa went completely still.
May you like
Because she knew exactly which letter he meant.
And Owen was about to discover why she had been so determined to keep Sadie away from his mother's photograph.
