Chapter 2: What Was in His Pocket
The next morning, Daniel came downstairs looking relaxed.
Rested.
Like a man who believed he had already won.
He kissed my cheek.
I smiled.
Margaret made coffee and said nothing.
Then his phone lit up on the counter.
He reached for it fast — but not fast enough.
I saw the name.
*Vanessa.*
"Work," he said, without looking at me.
Margaret set down her cup slowly.
"On Christmas Eve?"
He laughed.
"You know how it is, Mom."
She nodded.
"I do."
After he stepped outside to take the call, Margaret slid a folded piece of paper across the table.
"I found this in his jacket last night," she said quietly.
"The one Emily bought him."
It was a receipt.
Not a hotel.
Not jewelry.
An apartment lease.
Signed two months ago.
My hands went still.
"He wasn't planning a visit," Margaret said.
"He was planning a move."
We heard the back door open.
Daniel walked back in, smiling.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
Margaret looked at him for a long moment.
"Perfect," she said.
"We were just talking about Christmas plans."
He had no idea what was sitting on that table.
He had no idea what we already knew.
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What Emily and Margaret do next will change everything — and Daniel never sees it coming.
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