Chapter 1: The Missing Ticket
Tasha lowered her phone slowly.
Denise noticed.
She gave her daughter a tiny shake of the head.
It was quick.
Almost invisible.
But I saw it.
So did Maya.
I walked toward my daughter.
“Maya,” I said gently, “come here.””
She hesitated before crossing the room.
When she reached me, I put a hand on her shoulder.
“Did you know you weren't going?””
Maya stared at the floor.
“I found out yesterday.””
My chest tightened.
“Yesterday?””
She nodded.
“Mom said the trip was for family.””
Denise immediately interrupted.
“Marcus, that's exactly what I told her.””
I turned toward my wife.
“Then why isn't she going?””
Denise stood.
“Because we made a decision.””
“You made a decision,” I corrected.
She folded her arms.
“We discussed it.””
“No,” I said.
“You told me everything was booked. You never told me Maya wasn't included.””
Denise's expression hardened.
“I knew you would make this emotional.””
“She is my daughter.””
“And she's seventeen, Marcus.””
“So?””
“So she doesn't need to come everywhere.””
Maya flinched.
I felt her fingers tighten around the sleeve of her hoodie.
I looked at Denise.
“Where exactly is she supposed to be while we're in Hawaii?””
“She can stay with your mother.””
“My mother is eighty-one.””
“She offered.””
“She offered to watch Maya for three days while we were discussing the trip. Not for two weeks.””
Denise rolled her eyes.
“Then she'll stay with a friend.””
I stared at her.
“You already made arrangements for my daughter without asking me?””
“Because somebody had to be responsible.””
Maya suddenly turned away.
I heard a shaky breath.
“Maya,” I said.
She didn't stop.
She walked toward the stairs.
I followed.
“Maya.””
She stopped on the third step but didn't turn around.
“Dad, please.””
Her voice broke.
I lowered mine.
“Please what?””
“Don't make me beg to go.””
The words hit harder than any accusation.
I looked back at Denise.
She was standing beside the couch, arms folded, completely still.
I remembered Angela's hospital room.
The dim light.
The smell of antiseptic.
The sound of rain against the window.
My first wife had been so weak that she could barely squeeze my hand.
But she had looked straight into my eyes.
“Don't let her grow up feeling alone.””
I had promised.
And now my daughter was standing on a staircase, begging me not to make her beg for a place beside her own family.
I pulled out my phone.
“Denise,” I said, “call the airline.””
She frowned.
“Why?””
“Because we're fixing this.””
“You can't just add another ticket.””
“Watch me.””
She laughed once.
It wasn't amused.
“Marcus, this trip cost thousands of dollars.””
“I paid for it.””
“And I planned it.””
“Then you can help me fix it.””
She stepped closer.
“You're going to ruin everything because a teenager is upset?””
I looked at her.
“No.””
Then I looked at Maya.
“I'm going to ruin a vacation before I let my daughter believe she's unwanted in her own family.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Tasha stood.
“Dad?””
I turned.
She looked nervous.
“Can I tell you something?””
Denise's face changed instantly.
“Tasha, don't.””
Tasha swallowed.
“I think you should know what happened.””
Denise moved toward her.
“Tasha.””
But Tasha shook her head.
“No, Mom.””
The room went silent.
She looked at me.
“I didn't know you were going to find out like this.””
My stomach dropped.
“What happened?””
Tasha glanced at Maya.
Then at her mother.
Then back at me.
“She didn't forget Maya's ticket.””
Denise's face went pale.
May you like
Tasha whispered,
“She canceled it.””
