Chapter 2: The Papers With My Name on Them
I couldn't sleep that night.
The words on that document kept repeating in my head.
Request for Change of Guardianship.
I was sixteen. My mother was dead. My father was alive. There was no reason for anyone to change my guardianship.
Unless someone was trying to make it happen.
At 11:43 p.m., I heard footsteps outside my bedroom.
I sat up.
A thin line of light appeared beneath the door.
Then I heard Tiffany's voice.
“Daniel, you can't seriously expect me to apologize for trying to establish boundaries.””
Dad answered from the hallway.
“Boundaries don't involve throwing my daughter out of her home.””
“She isn't your daughter every second of every day, Daniel. You're allowed to have a marriage.””
“She is my daughter every second of every day.””
Silence.
Then Tiffany spoke again.
“That's exactly why we're having this problem.””
I moved closer to the door.
Dad sounded exhausted.
“What problem, Tiffany?””
“Your inability to separate your responsibilities from your feelings. Ariana needs discipline. She needs structure. She needs to understand that this household has changed.””
“My daughter's home hasn't changed.””
“Oh, please. You haven't even noticed half the changes I've made.””
“I've noticed enough.””
Tiffany lowered her voice.
“Then maybe you should consider what happens if I decide I can't do this anymore.””
I heard Dad sigh.
“Are you threatening to cancel the wedding?””
“I'm asking you whether this marriage means anything to you.””
Another silence.
Then Dad said something that made my stomach twist.
“I'm not discussing this tonight.””
Their footsteps moved away.
I returned to my bed and stared at the ceiling.
For the first time, I wondered whether my father had been happier before Tiffany entered our lives.
The next morning, I went downstairs early.
Dad was already in the kitchen, wearing his work shirt and reading something on his laptop.
A cup of coffee sat beside him.
He looked up when I entered.
“Morning, sweetheart.””
“Morning.””
He closed the laptop.
“Did you sleep?””
“Not really.””
He pulled out a chair.
“Come sit.””
I sat opposite him.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he reached across the table and covered my hand.
“I should have paid more attention.””
I looked down.
“Dad, I tried telling you.””
“I know.””
“You always said I was being difficult.””
He swallowed.
“I thought I was helping two people I loved learn how to live together.””
“But she hates me.””
Dad didn't answer immediately.
Finally, he said, “I don't know what she feels. But I know what she's done, and it isn't acceptable.””
I nodded.
He glanced toward the staircase.
“Tiffany is still upset. I asked her to stay upstairs this morning.””
“Is she leaving?””
“I haven't decided what happens next.””
I wanted to ask him to make her leave immediately.
But I was afraid.
What if he changed his mind?
What if she cried again?
What if he told me I was being selfish?
Instead, I asked about the document.
“Dad, what was that paper in your briefcase?””
His expression tightened.
“Where did you see it?””
“I saw my name.””
He leaned back.
“It's something Marcus is looking into.””
“Does it have something to do with me leaving?””
“No one is sending you anywhere.””
“Then why does it say guardianship?””
Dad rubbed his forehead.
“I need to understand exactly what was submitted before I explain it.””
Before I could ask another question, Tiffany entered the kitchen.
She wore a cream-colored robe and carried a white mug.
Her hair was perfectly styled.
She looked as though the previous evening had never happened.
“Good morning,” she said sweetly.
Neither of us answered.
She opened the refrigerator, removed a bottle of orange juice, and poured herself a glass.
Then she looked at me.
“Ariana, I think we should talk.””
“I don't.””
She smiled tightly.
“Daniel, perhaps you could give us a moment?””
“No,” Dad replied.
Tiffany's hand stopped around her glass.
“I beg your pardon?””
“You can speak here.””
She put the juice down.
“Fine. Ariana, I want you to understand that yesterday was an unfortunate misunderstanding.””
“You told me to leave.””
“I was upset.””
“You broke Mom's picture.””
“I didn't deliberately break it.””
“You dropped it.””
Tiffany's smile disappeared.
“Do you see what I mean, Daniel? She refuses to let anything go.””
Dad stood.
“Enough, Tiffany.””
She looked at him in disbelief.
“You're going to let her speak to me like that?””
“She's answering your questions.””
Tiffany picked up her mug.
“Wonderful. I see how this is going to be.””
She walked toward the pantry.
I thought the conversation was over.
Then I heard her mutter, “Some people really should have been sent away years ago.””
Dad turned.
“What did you say?””
“Nothing.””
He stared at her.
“Then stop saying it.””
Tiffany left the kitchen.
Dad waited until her footsteps disappeared before sitting down again.
“I have to go to the office,” he said.
“But I want you to call me if anything happens.””
I nodded.
“And Ariana?””
“Yes?””
“Don't let anyone make you feel like you don't belong here.””
I almost cried.
After Dad left, I went upstairs to get my backpack.
As I passed Tiffany's bedroom, I heard her speaking on the phone.
The door was slightly open.
I wasn't trying to listen.
But then she said my name.
“No, it didn't work. Daniel came home early.””
I stopped.
A pause.
“I know. I know what we agreed.””
My heart started pounding.
She continued.
“She has recordings. Apparently, she's been documenting everything.””
I took one step backward.
Tiffany laughed bitterly.
“It's fine. He'll calm down. He always does.””
Another pause.
Then her voice dropped.
“No, the guardianship paperwork is still the important part. Once that goes through, she won't have a choice.””
My fingers tightened around my backpack strap.
Guardianship.
There it was again.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and opened the recording app.
The conversation continued.
“I already told you, Daniel won't sign anything if he knows what it's really for.””
I stopped breathing.
Tiffany lowered her voice further.
“And he doesn't know about the money. That's the beauty of it.””
Money?
What money?
Then she said something that made my blood run cold.
“Once Ariana is out of the house, we can finally access the account without her causing problems.””
I stepped backward.
My shoe touched the hallway runner.
It made the smallest sound.
But Tiffany heard it.
“Hello?”” she called.
I froze.
The bedroom door opened.
She stood there holding her phone.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Ariana?””
I forced a smile.
“I'm going to school.””
She looked at my backpack.
Then at my phone.
“Were you listening?””
“No.””
She studied my face.
“You're a terrible liar.””
I walked toward the stairs.
“I'm late.””
She stepped into my path.
“Give me your phone.””
“No.””
Her expression changed instantly.
“I said give it to me.””
“Why?””
“Because I want to see what you've been recording.””
I backed away.
“You can't take my phone.””
She reached for it.
I pulled it against my chest.
“Stop!””
Her hand froze.
For a moment, we stared at each other.
Then Tiffany smiled.
It was the same smile she'd worn the day she shattered my photograph.
“Enjoy your little victory, Ariana.””
She stepped aside.
“You won't be here much longer.””
I hurried downstairs.
Once I reached the front porch, I opened my recording app.
The red timer was still running.
I had captured everything.
The guardianship paperwork.
The money.
And her admission that Dad didn't know what he was signing.
I immediately sent the audio file to my father's phone.
Then I typed:
*Dad, please listen to this before you sign anything. I think Tiffany is trying to take something that belongs to me.*
I pressed send.
A minute later, my phone vibrated.
Dad had replied.
*Ariana, stay where you are. I'm calling Marcus. Don't confront Tiffany again.*
Then another message appeared.
*I need to ask you something. Do you know anything about the account your mother left behind?*
I stared at the screen.
My mother had left behind an account?
Nobody had ever told me.
Not my father.
Not my grandparents.
May you like
Nobody.
And suddenly, Tiffany's obsession with getting me out of the house made a terrifying kind of sense.
