Chapter 6: Vanessa Moves First
By the time Graham reached Vanessa's apartment, she had already spoken to her solicitor.
He knocked twice.
She opened the door in a way that told him she had been expecting him.
"I want to talk about what happened today," Graham said.
"So do I." She stepped back to let him in.
"Sit down."
He didn't sit.
"My mother played me a voicemail, Vanessa."
"I know." She was calm.
Too calm.
"Eleanor has always had a problem with me.
You know that.
She saved a private phone call and played it to your ex-wife without telling you.
Doesn't that bother you?"
"What bothers me is what you said on it."
"What I said was that I was worried about Maisie." She moved to the kitchen counter and poured herself a glass of water.
"I have always been worried about Maisie.
That child is struggling and Naomi refuses to see it because it would mean admitting she's not coping."
"Maisie told my mother you told her that Naomi doesn't want her."
Vanessa set the glass down.
"Maisie is four.
She takes things out of context."
"You said it in front of her."
"I said I was concerned that Naomi seemed to be pulling back.
That is not the same as telling a child her mother doesn't want her.
If Maisie heard it that way, that is a comprehension issue, not a—"
"Stop." Graham's voice was flat.
"Stop explaining it."
Vanessa looked at him.
"I've been listening to you explain things for two years," he said.
"Every call.
Every concern.
Every careful little worry you dropped in my ear and then walked away from before I could ask a follow-up question." He shook his head.
"I should have seen it."
Vanessa's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
The softness did not come back.
"You're upset," she said.
"Your mother got in your head.
Let's not make a decision tonight that we'll both regret."
"I've already made it."
"Graham—"
"I want you to stay away from Maisie." His voice did not waver.
"I want you to stay away from my parents' house.
And I want this to be over."
Vanessa was quiet for a moment.
Then she said: "My solicitor has already drafted a statement.
If you end this tonight, I will be filing a formal complaint against Naomi for parental interference.
I have documented every concern I raised.
Every call.
Every date and time." She tilted her head slightly.
"I kept records, Graham.
Did you?"
The room went cold.
"You wouldn't," he said.
"I spent two years being treated like an outsider in your family because of a woman you used to be married to." Her voice was still even.
Still controlled.
"I protected myself.
That's not a threat.
That's just good sense."
Graham stared at her.
For one moment, she looked like she might actually win.
Then his phone buzzed on the counter between them.
He looked down at the screen.
It was a text from his mother.
May you like
Four words.
*Maisie told me more.*
