Chapter 14 - The Night She Packed the Burgundy Dress
We sat back down at the table after the sheriff left. Nobody had cleared the plates from breakfast. Dad sat at the head and pulled my chair real close to his so our arms touched. My dress pocket felt heavy against my leg.
Outside, I heard the sheriff's car crunch down the driveway. The house got quiet after it was gone, just the clock ticking and the candles buzzing on the wall. Vanessa sat across from us in her dark red dress. Her hair was still pulled back tight. Tyler sat down at the end and didn't pick up his fork.
Dad kept his hand on my shoulder. His breathing was slow. I could feel it when he breathed in.
"Tyler told him the truth," Dad said. He looked straight at Vanessa. "About what he heard that night in the kitchen."
Vanessa's mouth got thin. Her gold hoops moved a little when she shook her head.
"You turned him against me," she said. Her voice was low at first. "You and your questions. He's my brother, Daniel."
"I didn't tell him what to say," Dad said. "The sheriff asked him separate. Just like he asked us."
Tyler stared at his plate. His hands were in his lap. "I just said what I heard," he said real quiet. "I wasn't going to lie for it."
Vanessa turned fast toward him. "You don't even know what you heard."
"I know enough," Tyler said, and he wouldn't look up.
My heart was beating so loud in my ears. I slid my hand into the front pocket of my dress. My fingers found the little clip and the folded note. The metal was warm from being in there all day. The paper edge was soft where I had held it too much.
Dad squeezed my shoulder a little. "Emma," he said soft. "You don't have to."
I shook my head. I pulled my hand out slow and set them on the tablecloth between the plates. The clip clicked against the china. The note sat next to it, creased down the middle.
I pushed them a little closer to the middle so Vanessa could see.
"I kept it because I was scared," I said. My voice shook. "I didn't want you to take it."
Nobody moved for a second. Vanessa stared down at the clip and the note. I watched her face change. Her cheeks went pale under the warm light. Her eyes got wide and stayed on the table. Her breathing changed, faster through her nose, then she held it. Her hand on the tablecloth curled in.
"Where did you get that?" she whispered.
"You know where," Dad said.
Vanessa looked up at him, then back down. She didn't reach for them. She just stared like if she touched them they would burn her.
"It's a lie," she said, but it didn't sound strong like before. "She's five. You let her make this up."
"No," Dad said. His voice didn't get loud. That scared me more. "The sheriff has it logged now. Three people in this house, same story. You need to stop."
Vanessa stood up so fast her chair scraped loud on the wood. I flinched and Dad pulled me tighter against his side. She looked at Tyler, then at Dad, then at me. Her eyes were shiny but no tears fell.
"Fine," she said. "Fine. You all want me to be the bad guy."
Nobody answered. The candles flickered when she walked past them.
We heard her go upstairs. Her heels hit hard on the steps. Then a door shut. Then drawers opening and closing. A zipper. Something thumped against the wall.
Tyler rubbed his face with both hands. Dad didn't move. He kept me right next to him, his arm around my back. My head leaned into his gray shirt. I could hear his heart.
May you like
I kept looking at the clip and the note on the table. They were out now. I didn't have to hide them in my pocket anymore. But my hand still felt empty without them.
Upstairs, Vanessa dragged something across the floor. Dad kissed the top of my head and held on.
