Chapter 1: The Missing Ticket
“This isn’t just a vacation.””
My voice cracked on the last word.
Vanessa stared at me over the rim of her coffee mug, completely unmoved. Behind her, Tyler was already scrolling through his phone, probably looking up Miami beaches. Brandon had started taking pictures of his ticket like he’d won some kind of lottery.
Vanessa sighed.
“Maya, your mother has been gone for years.””
The room seemed to shrink.
I looked toward the front door.
“Dad will fix this.””
Vanessa’s eyebrows lifted.
“Your father agreed to the arrangements.””
“No, he didn’t.””
“He did.””
“You’re lying.””
Her face hardened.
“Excuse me?””
I swallowed, but I didn’t back down.
“Dad told me yesterday that we were all going. He said he’d already paid for everything.””
Tyler snorted.
“Maybe plans changed.””
I turned toward him.
“Stay out of it.””
“Maya,” Vanessa warned.
“No.”” My eyes burned.
“I want to know where my ticket is.””
Vanessa set the mug down.
“There is no ticket.””
The front door opened.
Dad walked in carrying two suitcases and a garment bag.
He stopped when he saw my face.
“Maya?””
I ran to him.
“Dad, Vanessa canceled my ticket.””
His eyes moved to Vanessa.
“What?””
For the first time, Vanessa looked nervous.
Just for half a second.
Then she smiled.
“It wasn’t a cancellation, Marcus. We had to make some adjustments.””
Dad dropped the garment bag onto the floor.
“What adjustments?””
Tyler lifted his ticket.
“We're going to Miami!””
Dad stared at him.
Then at Brandon.
Then at Vanessa.
Finally, his eyes returned to me.
“Where’s Maya’s ticket?””
Silence.
Vanessa crossed her arms.
“She isn’t coming.””
Dad’s expression changed.
“What did you just say?””
“She’s staying here.””
“Why?””
“She’s old enough to stay home for a few days.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“I’m fifteen.””
Dad shook his head.
“That’s not the point.””
Vanessa stepped closer to him.
“Marcus, please. We talked about this.””
“No, Vanessa. We talked about taking all five of us.””
“I changed my mind.””
“You changed my daughter’s vacation without telling me?””
Her voice became softer.
“We can’t afford to take everyone.””
Dad laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
“Then nobody goes.””
Tyler’s smile vanished.
“What?””
Brandon looked at Vanessa.
“But you said—”
“Boys, go upstairs,” Dad said.
“But Dad—”
“Now.””
Tyler and Brandon disappeared down the hallway.
The second they were gone, Dad lowered his voice.
“Vanessa, what happened?””
She looked at me.
“Maya has been difficult lately.””
I stared at her.
“Difficult?””
“She’s disrespectful. She argues. She refuses to help around the house.””
Dad frowned.
“You’re punishing her?””
“I’m teaching her responsibility.””
Dad looked at me.
“Maya, did something happen?””
I shook my head.
“I just asked where my ticket was.””
Vanessa rolled her eyes.
“She always plays innocent.””
Dad’s jaw tightened.
“Enough.””
The room fell silent.
He walked over to the kitchen counter and picked up his phone.
“I’ll call the airline.””
Vanessa suddenly moved.
“Marcus, wait.””
He looked at her.
“Why?””
“I already canceled it.””
Dad froze.
“You what?””
“I canceled Maya’s reservation this morning.””
“When?””
“Before work.””
“How much was the refund?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Why does that matter?””
“Because I paid for the ticket.””
“I put it on my card.””
Dad stared at her.
Then he opened the family vacation email on his phone.
His finger moved across the screen.
“I paid you back.””
Vanessa’s face changed.
“What?””
“I transferred you the money three weeks ago.””
She said nothing.
Dad looked at me.
I watched him scroll.
Then he whispered, “That’s strange.””
“What?”” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he walked toward the hallway.
“I need to check something.””
Vanessa followed.
“Marcus, there’s nothing to check.””
He turned around.
“Then you won't mind if I check.””
Her face went pale.
I had no idea what he was looking for.
But ten minutes later, I heard Dad shout from his office.
“Vanessa!””
She rushed inside.
I followed.
Dad was standing behind his desk, staring at his laptop.
“What is this?””
Vanessa stopped in the doorway.
On the screen was the airline confirmation.
And beside it was a refund receipt.
*MAYA CARTER — FULL REFUND ISSUED.*
But beneath the refund amount was something else.
The refund had not gone back to my dad.
It had gone into an account I didn't recognize.
Dad slowly looked at Vanessa.
“Whose account is this?””
She didn't answer.
“Vanessa.””
Her lips parted.
Then she whispered a name.
And it wasn't hers.
It wasn't mine.
It wasn't Tyler's.
Dad's face went completely white.
May you like
Because the account belonged to someone none of us had ever heard of.
And suddenly, my missing ticket didn't feel like the real problem anymore.
