PART 3
Two patrol officers arrived first.
Then paramedics.
The first officer was a woman named Officer Karen Mills.
She took one look at Maya’s hands and separated everyone immediately.
Guests were told to remain in the living room.
Loretta was moved near the front door.
Danielle and Maya were taken into our bedroom.
I followed.
A paramedic examined Maya.
He asked when the burns happened.
Maya looked at Danielle.
Danielle looked terrified.
The paramedic lowered his voice.
“It’s okay.”
“You’re not in trouble.”
Maya whispered.
“Today.”
He examined the older marks.
“And these?”
She said nothing.
Danielle began crying.
Then she finally spoke.
“Some are from last week.”
I sat down.
Last week.
I had been home last week.
I had eaten breakfast in the same apartment.
I had kissed Maya goodbye before work.
I had asked Danielle why she seemed tired.
She told me she hadn’t slept well.
I believed her.
The shame was immediate.
I looked at my wife.
“How long?”
She shook her head.
“Danielle.”
“Marcus, not now.”
“How long?”
Her voice cracked.
“Months.”
I stared at her.
The room seemed to tilt.
The paramedic quietly continued treating Maya.
I lowered my voice.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Danielle wiped her eyes.
“I tried.”
I said nothing.
She looked at me.
“I tried three times.”
Then I remembered.
A dinner in April.
Danielle had said living with my mother was becoming difficult.
I told her Loretta was still grieving Dad.
A Sunday in June.
Danielle had asked if we could help my mother find a senior apartment.
I said it would make me feel like I was abandoning her.
Then two weeks earlier.
Danielle had started crying after I mentioned another business trip.
She said she hated being alone here.
I kissed her.
Then told her it was only four days.
Three times.
She had tried.
Three times, I had defended my mother before Danielle finished speaking.
I covered my face.
“I’m sorry.”
Danielle looked away.
I wanted to say more.
There were no words large enough.
Officer Mills entered.
“Mr. Bennett.”
“Yes.”
“I need to speak with your wife privately.”
I stood.
“Of course.”
As I turned toward the door, Maya grabbed my hand.
“Daddy.”
I stopped.
“What, sweetheart?”
She looked toward the hallway.
Then she whispered.
“Grandma has the drawer.”
I frowned.
“What drawer?”
“The locked one.”
Danielle’s face changed.
Officer Mills noticed.
“What locked drawer?”
Maya lowered her voice even further.
“The one Grandma says nobody can open.”
“She puts Mommy’s things in there.”
I turned toward Danielle.
“What things?”
Danielle stared at me.
Then she said something I was not prepared to hear.
“Your mother has been taking my documents.”
