Chapter 2: The Rules Inside My Own Home
I read the list three times.
I kept expecting the words to change.
They didn’t.
*Birthday Evening Schedule*
1. Maya stays upstairs until the main guests arrive and photos are completed. 2. Maya avoids the living room unless invited.
3. Maya does not discuss personal family matters with guests. 4. Maya understands this evening is about Marcus and Tara.
I stared at the last line.
My birthday.
My home.
My daughter.
And somehow, she had been turned into someone who needed permission to exist.
“Tara,” I said quietly.
She didn’t answer.
“Maya, did she give you this today?””
Maya nodded.
“At lunch.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
Her eyes filled.
“Because every time I tell you something about Tara, you think I’m trying to make you choose.””
The sentence hurt because I knew exactly why she felt that way.
I had made her feel like speaking up would destroy my marriage.
I had asked her to be patient.
To give Tara time.
To understand.
I had forgotten that a child’s silence is not always peace.
Sometimes it is surrender.
“Maya,” I said, “look at me.””
She did.
“You should have told me.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
She looked down.
“Last month.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“What happened last month?””
Tara stepped forward.
“This is ridiculous.””
“No,” I said.
“Answer the question.””
Maya looked nervous.
Then she whispered:
“When you were away for work, she moved Mom’s pictures.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She said they made the house look like a memorial.””
I looked at Tara.
“Is that true?””
Tara sighed.
“Marcus—”
“Is it true?””
“I moved a few things.””
“Maya said pictures.””
“They were everywhere.””
“They were family pictures.””
“They were reminders of your first marriage.””
The room went silent.
Even Tara seemed to realize what she had just admitted.
My first marriage.
That was how she described the woman who gave me my daughter.
Elena wasn’t some old chapter I needed to close.
She was part of us.
“She’s Maya’s mother,” I said.
“I know that.””
“Do you?””
Tara looked away.
Maya wiped her cheek.
“I didn’t care if she moved them from the hallway. I just didn’t like that she told me I should stop talking about Mom.””
“When did she say that?””
Maya hesitated.
“Tara said people get tired of hearing about someone who isn’t coming back.””
My hands curled into fists.
Not because I wanted to yell.
Because I was trying very hard not to.
Tara noticed.
“You’re making this bigger than it is.””
“Am I?””
“Yes.””
She stepped closer.
“You don’t understand what it’s like being the second wife.””
That sentence stopped me.
Because for the first time, Tara wasn’t denying anything.
She was explaining it.
“I walk into a house where everyone remembers Elena,” she said.
“Every wall has her fingerprints on it. Every story starts with her.””
“She was Maya’s mother.””
“And I’m your wife.””
I looked at her.
“And Maya is my daughter.””
Tara’s face changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
A flash of anger.
Gone almost immediately.
“You always do this,” she said.
“Do what?””
“Put her first.””
I stared at her.
“She’s sixteen.””
“She’s old enough to understand respect.””
“Respect?””
“Yes.””
I picked up the paper.
“Is this respect?””
Tara snatched it from my hand.
“You’re embarrassing me.””
“No. You embarrassed yourself when you wrote rules for my daughter in my house.””
Maya stood.
“Dad, maybe I should go upstairs.””
“No.””
Tara looked at her.
“See? This is what I mean.””
“What?””
“You encourage this.””
I turned.
“Encourage what?””
“Her making me the villain.””
Maya shook her head.
“I never said anything about you before tonight.””
That was the saddest part.
She wasn’t trying to punish Tara.
She had been trying to survive her.
A knock came from the patio door.
Renee stood there.
“Marcus?””
I walked over.
“What?””
She glanced inside.
“People are asking if everything is okay.””
I looked back at my family.
At my daughter.
At my wife.
“I don’t know,” I said.
Renee’s eyes moved to the paper in my hand.
“What happened?””
Before I could answer, Isaiah appeared behind her.
His face was serious.
“Marcus.””
“What?””
“I need to tell you something.””
Something about his tone made the room feel colder.
He reached into the pocket of his jacket.
“I wasn’t planning to bring this up tonight.””
“Bring what up?””
Isaiah looked at Maya.
Then at Tara.
Then back at me.
“I found something when I was looking through those old photos.””
My heart started beating faster.
“What?””
He pulled out his phone.
“I found messages.””
My eyebrows pulled together.
“From who?””
Isaiah looked directly at Tara.
May you like
And said:
“From your wife.””
