Chapter 2: What Devin Knew
The highway disappeared beneath us in long gray ribbons.
Nobody spoke for nearly a minute after I read the message.
Then I pulled onto the shoulder.
The SUV rocked slightly as trucks passed.
Maya stared at Devin.
“What does she mean?””
Devin's fingers trembled around the phone.
“I don't know.””
“Don't lie,” Maya said.
“I’m not.””
“Devin.””
He looked at her.
“I swear.””
I turned around in my seat.
“Tell me everything.””
He hesitated.
“Everything you know.””
Devin swallowed.
“Mom found something.””
“Claire?””
He nodded.
“About Maya.””
Maya's face tightened.
“What kind of something?””
“I don't know.””
“Then why did she say Dad doesn't know?””
“I don't know!””
The words burst out of him.
He immediately looked ashamed.
“I’m sorry.””
I stared at my son.
Sixteen.
Too young to be carrying secrets between adults.
“What did your mother show you?””
Devin looked down.
“A document.””
“What document?””
“She said it was private.””
“That wasn't an answer.””
“I know.””
Maya unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned forward.
“Devin, please.””
His eyes met hers.
“She said your name was on it.””
Maya frowned.
“What does that mean?””
“I don't know.””
“Where is it?””
“At home.””
I started the engine again.
Maya sat back.
“Are we going back?””
I looked at her in the mirror.
“No.””
“But—”
“No.””
I pulled back onto the highway.
“Whatever Claire knows, we'll deal with it after we get somewhere safe and calm.””
Maya looked down at her hands.
“You keep saying safe.””
“Because I mean it.””
She nodded.
But she didn't look convinced.
Three hours later, we landed in Denver.
The flight had been quiet.
Too quiet.
I had watched Maya sleep against the window for most of it.
Once, she woke up suddenly and looked around as though she had forgotten where she was.
Then she saw me.
“Are we still going?””
“Yes.””
She smiled faintly.
“Okay.””
That single word stayed with me.
At the rental counter, I picked up the keys and drove toward the mountains.
The further we went, the less Maya spoke.
The city faded.
Then the suburbs.
Then the roads narrowed.
Snow appeared along the shoulders.
Pine trees crowded the highway.
By sunset, the mountains looked like dark walls against a violet sky.
The cabin was exactly what Claire had promised it would be.
Massive.
Beautiful.
Expensive.
Dark timber walls. Stone fireplace. Huge windows facing the mountains.
A place designed for photographs.
I unlocked the front door.
Cold air greeted us.
“Heat's off,” Devin said.
“I noticed.””
I found the thermostat.
Nothing happened.
“Breaker.””
We searched the utility room.
After ten minutes, the lights finally flickered on.
Maya stood in the living room, staring at the enormous stone fireplace.
“Wow.””
I looked at her.
“You like it?””
She nodded.
“I've never stayed somewhere like this.””
I smiled.
“Neither have I.””
Devin dropped onto the couch.
“I’m exhausted.””
“Go upstairs.””
He stood.
“Which room?””
“The left.””
He picked up his backpack.
Then stopped.
“Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“If Mom calls…”
“I'll handle it.””
Devin nodded.
He disappeared upstairs.
Maya stayed behind.
She was still staring at the fireplace.
“Dad?””
“Hmm?””
“Why did you give me the master bedroom?””
“Because I want you to have it.””
“But you're my dad.””
“I know.””
“You're supposed to take it.””
I shook my head.
“Not this time.””
She smiled.
Then her eyes filled.
She turned away quickly.
I pretended not to notice.
That was when my phone rang.
Claire.
I let it ring.
Again.
Again.
Finally, I answered.
“What?””
Her voice was surprisingly calm.
“Where are you?””
“You know where I am.””
“I want to talk to Maya.””
“No.””
“She's my daughter too.””
“No, Claire.””
Silence.
Then she said, “You don't understand what you've done.””
“I understand exactly what I've done.””
“You took her away from me.””
“You left her behind.””
“I made a mistake.””
“You made a plan.””
Her breathing changed.
“Listen to me.””
“No.””
“Andre—”
“You had five tickets.””
Silence.
“You had five seats,” I continued.
“You booked a cabin for five. You planned activities for five. You told everyone Maya wasn't coming.””
“It wasn't about her.””
“It was exactly about her.””
“You don't know the whole story.””
“Then tell me.””
She didn't.
I waited.
Finally, Claire whispered,
“Ask your mother.””
My stomach tightened.
“My mother?””
“Yes.””
“What does my mother have to do with this?””
Claire's voice became cold.
“She knew before you did.””
The call ended.
I stood there staring at my phone.
Maya had heard everything.
“What did she mean?””
I turned toward her.
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
“Maya—”
“She said Grandma knew.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“We're not doing this tonight.””
“Dad, please.””
“We'll figure it out.””
She nodded.
But then she said something that stopped me.
“Grandma has always acted strange around me.””
I looked at her.
“What do you mean?””
“She doesn't like when people ask about my birth.””
The room seemed to shrink.
“What?””
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
“I asked her once when I was little.””
“And?””
“She told me some things were better left alone.””
I stared at my daughter.
Then my phone buzzed.
A new message.
Not from Claire.
Not from my mother.
From an unknown number.
There was one photograph attached.
I opened it.
It was a picture of a hospital document.
The top line read:
*Birth Record — Female Infant*
The date was seventeen years ago.
The mother’s name was Claire Davis.
The father’s name was blank.
But the line beneath it contained something that made my blood run cold.
*Biological father: Andre Davis — pending confirmation.*
I stared at the screen.
Maya stepped closer.
“Dad?””
I locked the phone.
“Go upstairs.””
“What happened?””
“Go upstairs, Maya.””
She didn't move.
“Why?””
I looked at her.
Because for the first time in seventeen years, I wasn't sure what the word daughter meant.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
*Unknown Number: If you want the truth about Maya, don't trust Claire. And don't trust your mother either.*
