Part 2 – "Daddy… Mom Put the Necklace in Maya's Bag."
Part 2 – "Daddy… Mom Put the Necklace in Maya's Bag."
The kitchen suddenly felt silent.
Not the peaceful kind of silence.
The kind that makes your heart stop.
I slowly set my mug on the counter.
"What did you say, buddy?"
Ethan wouldn't look at me.
His little fingers wrapped tightly around the warm cup.
His voice was barely a whisper.
"Daddy..."
"Mom put Grandma's necklace in Maya's backpack."
Everything inside me froze.
Caleb burst into tears.
"I saw it too."
"Mom told us to stay upstairs."
"But we looked through the railing."
"We saw her."
I stared at my sons.
Six-year-olds didn't invent stories like this.
Not together.
Not with that much fear.
"When?"
I asked quietly.
"This morning."
Ethan swallowed.
"Maya was helping us build a dinosaur puzzle."
"Mom went into her room."
"She came back holding the jewelry box."
"Then she put something inside Maya's backpack."
"And she smiled."
The room seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
"No..."
I whispered.
"No..."
Vivian couldn't...
Could she?
Then Ethan grabbed my wrist.
His hand was ice cold.
"Daddy..."
"Don't tell Mommy we told you."
"Please."
My stomach dropped.
"Why?"
Both boys looked toward the hallway.
As if someone might already be listening.
May you like
Finally Caleb whispered,
"Because Mommy says bad things happen to people who don't obey."
