Chapter 2: The List
The notebook was the reason I stopped believing Tara’s accusations were random.
Because she had been keeping score.
Dad stood in the kitchen holding the notebook like it was something dangerous.
I walked downstairs because I heard his voice.
“Maya.””
Something about the way he said my name made me nervous.
“What happened?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
He opened the notebook.
The first page was filled with dates.
The second page was filled with my name.
My stomach tightened.
“What is that?””
Dad looked at me.
“I don’t know.””
But his expression said he was starting to understand.
I took a step closer.
He turned the notebook around.
The first sentence made my heart sink.
“Maya left dishes in sink. Again.””
I stared.
“That’s it?””
Dad flipped the page.
“Maya came home ten minutes late.””
Another page.
“Maya used too much electricity.””
Another.
“Maya’s friends are too loud.””
I felt my face burn.
“She wrote all that?””
Dad nodded slowly.
“She kept a record.””
I looked away.
Suddenly, every small mistake I had ever made felt heavier.
Not because I had done something terrible.
Because someone had been collecting proof that I was difficult.
Tara walked into the kitchen and froze.
She saw the notebook.
Her expression changed.
“Why are you looking through my things?””
Dad turned toward her.
“Why do you have a list about Maya?””
Tara immediately became defensive.
“It’s not a list.””
“It has dates.””
“It’s just notes.””
“Notes about my daughter?””
Tara put her purse down.
“I was trying to understand patterns.””
I stared at her.
“Patterns?””
She looked at me.
“You don’t always tell the truth.””
My dad’s face hardened.
“Maya didn’t lie about the money.””
“That was one situation.””
“No,” I said quietly.
“It wasn’t.””
The room went silent.
Because for the first time, I said it out loud.
“Tara always assumes I’m guilty.””
Tara looked offended.
“That is not true.””
I looked at Dad.
“She checked my backpack when my homework went missing last month.””
Dad frowned.
“What?””
Tara looked away.
“It was reasonable.””
“And when your necklace disappeared?”” I continued.
Her face changed.
“I found it later.””
“You blamed me first.””
Dad looked at Tara.
“Did you?””
She didn’t answer.
That was enough.
My dad slowly closed the notebook.
“How long has this been happening?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Tara sighed.
“I don’t understand why everyone is acting like I’m some monster.””
Dad looked at her.
“Because you keep treating my daughter like she’s something you need to protect yourself from.””
Tara’s expression became cold.
“You’re making me the villain.””
“No,” Dad said.
“I’m asking you to take responsibility.””
She grabbed the notebook.
“This is private.””
Dad didn’t move.
“Not when it’s about Maya.””
Tara walked away.
But before she left, she stopped.
“You have no idea what it’s like living with someone who might hurt you.””
I looked at her.
“What does that mean?””
She didn’t answer.
She just walked upstairs.
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
Not because of the notebook.
Because of what Tara said.
Someone who might hurt you.
The next morning, Dad sat across from me at breakfast.
“Maya, I need to ask you something.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“Has Tara ever done anything worse than accusing you?””
I wanted to say no.
I wanted to protect everyone from another fight.
That was what I always did.
I stayed quiet.
I made myself smaller.
But then I remembered the notebook.
All those dates.
All those little moments she had saved.
“She changed the locks on my bedroom door last winter.””
Dad froze.
“What?””
“She said it was because I kept forgetting to close it.””
“Did she tell me?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Dad looked hurt.
Not angry.
Hurt.
Because he realized there was a whole version of my life happening in the same house that he had never seen.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
His face changed.
“Who is it?””
He didn’t answer.
Because the name on the screen was one he hadn’t seen in years.
He picked up.
“Hello?””
A few seconds passed.
Then Dad stood up.
“Maya… go upstairs.””
My heart started racing.
“Why?””
He looked toward the front door.
Because someone was standing outside.
May you like
Someone from Tara’s past.
And they had brought a truth that could destroy everything.
