Chapter 6: The Secret Waiting at the Airport
I called Caleb back immediately.
No answer.
I tried again.
Straight to voicemail.
Patrice stood beside me, holding the printed guardianship inquiry.
"What did he say?""
I looked at her.
"He said he and Tori might not be coming back to the same house.""
Patrice sat down heavily.
"Are they separating?""
"I don't know.""
"But the children—"
"I know.""
I looked toward the kitchen.
Four little people were eating snacks and making paper airplanes, unaware that their parents might be preparing to disappear into separate lives.
I couldn't allow myself to panic.
Not yet.
I called Margaret.
She answered immediately.
"What's happened?""
I explained Caleb's statement and told her about Willow Creek.
She was silent for a moment.
Then she asked, "Has either parent told you they are unable or unwilling to care for the children?""
"No.""
"Have they indicated that the children would be left unattended?""
"No. They just keep assuming someone else will take them.""
"All right. We need to be precise. Their marital problems do not automatically mean they intend to abandon the children. But the documents and the proposed placement arrangement are concerning.""
Patrice leaned toward the phone.
"What should we do?""
"First, ask Caleb and Tori to confirm in writing who will be responsible for the children while they are abroad. Second, don't sign any guardianship or placement agreement. Third, if they refuse to make a safe arrangement, contact the relevant child welfare authorities for immediate guidance.""
I nodded.
"Understood.""
Margaret continued.
"I also want to know whether the guardianship inquiry contains any court case number.""
I searched the documents.
There was a reference number.
I read it aloud.
Margaret asked me to send her the complete file.
Then she said, "Myrna, I have one more question. Did either parent mention selling their house?""
I froze.
"No.""
"Did you see anything about a property sale?""
I looked at the paperwork.
The word property appeared in the background section.
I scrolled.
There was a line about a proposed relocation following the sale of the family residence.
I read it again.
"Yes.""
Patrice turned toward me.
"What?""
"Their house.""
I looked at Margaret.
"It says they're considering selling.""
Margaret sighed.
"That could explain the relocation language. But we need to know whether the children have a stable residence after the trip.""
I hung up and searched my messages.
Three weeks earlier, Caleb had sent me a photograph of the backyard at his house.
He had written:
Thinking of putting the place on the market next year. Big changes coming.
I had assumed he meant renovations.
I hadn't asked.
Now I wished I had.
At 12:05, my phone rang.
It was Tori.
I answered.
"Where is Caleb?"" I asked.
"He's with me.""
"Then put him on the phone.""
"He's busy.""
"Tori, we need to discuss the children.""
She sighed.
"Myrna, please. We have already discussed this.""
"No. You announced it. That's not the same thing.""
She became defensive.
"We're trying to get on our flight.""
"Then tell me what Willow Creek is.""
A long silence followed.
Finally, she said, "It's an option.""
"For what?""
"For the children if neither family can help.""
I looked at Patrice.
"Are you seriously telling me you were considering sending four children to a residential assessment center while you went to Japan?""
"Only temporarily.""
"Why?""
"Because Caleb and I have things to work out.""
"Then why not postpone your vacation?""
Tori laughed bitterly.
"Because we've already paid for it!""
I closed my eyes.
There it was again.
Money.
The flights were paid for.
The hotels were paid for.
The tour was paid for.
Apparently, the children could be rearranged around the bookings.
I lowered my voice.
"Tori, what exactly is happening between you and Caleb?""
"That's none of your business.""
"Then why are your marital problems being used to justify a guardianship arrangement involving my name?""
She said nothing.
I continued.
"Are you separating?""
A pause.
Then she whispered, "We haven't decided.""
I felt a wave of sadness.
For the children.
For Caleb.
Even for Tori, although I was furious with her.
"Then the children need stability. They need to know where they're sleeping, who is taking them to school, and whether their parents are coming home.""
Tori's voice hardened.
"They'll be fine.""
"That isn't an answer.""
"You're making everything worse.""
"No. I'm asking questions you should have answered before you booked the trip.""
She lowered her voice.
"Myrna, I need you to do one thing for me.""
"What?""
"Don't tell the children about the separation.""
I looked toward the kitchen.
Eli was helping Maggie fold a napkin.
"They already know something is happening.""
"Then don't make it worse.""
I took a slow breath.
"I won't discuss adult problems with them unnecessarily. But I won't lie to them either.""
Tori made a frustrated noise.
"You're impossible.""
"Perhaps.""
Then I asked the question that had been bothering me since Patrice showed me the document.
"Why November sixteenth?""
She didn't answer.
"Tori?""
Finally, she said, "That's the date.""
"What date?""
"The date we're supposed to finalize everything.""
"Finalize what?""
She exhaled.
Then I heard Caleb speaking in the background.
"Tori, give me the phone.""
There was a rustle.
Then my son came on the line.
"Mom.""
"Caleb, I need you to tell me the truth.""
He sounded exhausted.
"About what?""
"Everything. Your marriage. The house.
The children. The documents.""
He was silent.
Then he said, "Tori and I have been having problems for almost a year.""
I closed my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't want you worrying.""
"Caleb, I'm your mother. Worrying is part of the job.""
He gave a weak laugh.
Then his voice changed.
"Tori wants to move to Arizona.""
"With the children?""
"She says she does.""
"And you?""
"I don't know.""
I stared at the wall.
"Why?""
"Because my job is here. The house is here. My whole life is here.""
"Then why are you considering selling?""
He hesitated.
"Because Tori already made an offer on another place.""
I sat down.
"Without you?""
"She says it's only an option.""
"Caleb, that doesn't sound like a decision you've made together.""
He sighed.
"Mom, there are things you don't know.""
"Then tell me.""
He didn't answer immediately.
Finally, he said, "I found out about some financial accounts.""
"What accounts?""
"Money Tori had been putting away.""
I looked at Patrice.
She was listening.
"How much money?""
"I don't know exactly. Enough.""
"Enough for what?""
He swallowed.
"Enough to pay for the move. Enough to cover the first year in Arizona. Enough to pay Vanessa.""
My heart stopped.
"Pay Vanessa for what?""
He spoke so quietly I almost didn't hear him.
"Helping arrange the temporary placement.""
I stood.
"Caleb, what exactly did you and Tori ask this woman to do?""
"Mom, I can't talk about this at the airport.""
"Then where can you talk about it?""
He took a breath.
"After Japan.""
"No.""
"Mom—"
"You don't get to disappear for two weeks while your children are sitting in someone else's house and expect me to wait until it's convenient.""
His voice cracked.
"I didn't want any of this.""
I felt a pang of sympathy.
But sympathy wasn't going to fix anything.
"Then you should have stopped it.""
Silence.
Then he said, "I tried.""
"What do you mean?""
"Tori said if I didn't cooperate, she would take the children and move anyway. She said I would never see them.""
I looked at Patrice.
She covered her mouth.
"Caleb, is that why you agreed to the paperwork?""
"Partly.""
"Did you know about the forged signatures?""
He didn't answer.
"Caleb?""
"I knew she had arranged the forms.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He finally said, "I didn't know she had signed your name.""
I wanted to believe him.
I really did.
But his name was on the witness line.
And he had been present when the document was notarized.
"Then how did you witness a signature you didn't see me make?""
His silence answered the question.
I felt tears gathering behind my eyes.
"Caleb, you were there.""
"Mom, I thought it was just a formality.""
"You watched someone sign my name?""
He started breathing harder.
"I thought you would eventually agree.""
I sat down.
For the first time that morning, I felt completely exhausted.
My son had watched another person imitate my signature and convinced himself it didn't matter because I would eventually give in.
"Caleb, listen to me. I love you. But I will not pretend this is acceptable.""
"I know.""
"Do you?""
"Yes.""
"Then tell me where the children are supposed to stay.""
He took a breath.
"Tori arranged for them to stay with you for fourteen days. After that, Vanessa was supposed to help us transition them.""
"Transition them where?""
He hesitated.
"Arizona.""
I stared at him.
"All four children?""
"That's what Tori wants.""
"And what do you want?""
He didn't answer.
Then I heard a boarding announcement in the background.
"Mom, I have to go.""
"Caleb, don't hang up.""
"I'll call you later.""
"Caleb!""
The line went dead.
I stood motionless.
Patrice took the phone from my hand.
"He's going to board.""
I nodded.
"And if he does, those children will have no clear arrangement beyond whatever Tori and Vanessa have planned.""
Patrice looked toward the kitchen.
"Then we need to stop this from becoming a disaster.""
At 12:18, I called the airport again.
I explained that the emergency caregiver authorization was disputed and that I had not agreed to assume responsibility.
The woman I spoke with transferred me to a supervisor.
He listened carefully.
"Mrs. Bennett, we can document your statement and refer the matter to the appropriate team. However, we cannot determine custody or prevent a parent from traveling solely because a relative disputes a childcare form.""
"I understand.""
"Have you contacted law enforcement about the suspected forged signature?""
"Not yet.""
"I recommend you do so.""
He gave me a reference number.
Then I called Margaret.
She told me to preserve every document and contact local law enforcement to report the suspected identity misuse and signature forgery.
Patrice offered to accompany me.
But before we could decide what to do next, the front doorbell rang again.
I looked at the clock.
12:26.
Boarding would already be underway for my flight.
Patrice went to the door.
A delivery driver stood outside holding a large envelope.
"Delivery for Mrs. Myrna Bennett.""
I signed.
The envelope was addressed to me.
There was no return address.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
At the top was the logo of a law firm.
The letter was dated October twenty-eighth.
It stated that I had been identified as a proposed temporary guardian for the four Bennett children.
I read the first paragraph.
Then the second.
My hands began to shake.
The letter claimed that I had already expressed willingness to care for the children during their parents' relocation process.
But it was the final paragraph that made my blood run cold.
Should the proposed family placement fail, our client reserves the right to pursue an expedited temporary custody application without further notice to the proposed caregivers.
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Patrice.
"They're threatening to go to court if we refuse.""
She took the letter.
"Who sent this?""
I pointed to the signature.
"An attorney named Robert Vance.""
Patrice frowned.
"Wait.""
She walked to her laptop and searched the name.
A moment later, she turned the screen toward me.
The attorney's profile appeared.
Below his name was a photograph of a man in a dark suit.
And beside him stood Vanessa Cole.
The caption read:
Working together to support families through difficult transitions.
Patrice sat down.
"Vanessa and the attorney know each other.""
I looked at the date again.
October twenty-eighth.
This had been sent five days before the children arrived at my house.
Five days before the supposed Japan trip became an emergency.
Five days before Tori announced that I had agreed to watch the children.
They had already prepared for our refusal.
My phone rang.
Joyce.
I answered.
"Myrna, boarding starts in ten minutes. Where are you?""
I looked at my suitcase.
Then at the children.
Then at the letter.
"I don't know if I can make it.""
Joyce was silent.
Then she said, "Myrna, listen to me. You have spent years being the person who fixes everything. But you cannot fix this by sacrificing your own life.""
I closed my eyes.
"I know.""
"Do you?""
I looked at the four children.
"I need to make sure they're safe.""
"Then make sure they're safe. But don't let anyone steal your future while you're doing it.""
I hung up.
For several seconds, I stood with the letter in my hand.
Then Patrice's phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
It was Tori.
Patrice answered and put the call on speaker.
"Hello?""
Tori sounded furious.
"Mom, what have you done?""
Patrice frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
"Vanessa just called me. She said you and Myrna are refusing to cooperate.""
"That's correct.""
"You can't do that!""
Patrice's expression hardened.
"Watch me.""
Tori raised her voice.
"You don't understand what happens if this arrangement falls apart!""
"Then explain it.""
Silence.
Then Tori said something neither of us expected.
"If we don't complete the placement by November sixteenth, the bank will take the house.""
Patrice looked at me.
I felt my stomach drop.
"The bank?"" I asked.
Tori went quiet.
Then she realized I was listening.
"Why are you there?""
"Because this is apparently everyone's business except ours.""
I stepped closer to the phone.
"Tori, what does the bank have to do with your children?""
She began crying.
Not loudly.
Just enough to change the sound of her voice.
"Caleb doesn't know everything.""
I felt cold.
"What doesn't he know?""
She took a breath.
Then she said:
"The house isn't just in trouble, Myrna. It's already been sold.""
I stared at Patrice.
"Sold to whom?""
Tori didn't answer.
Instead, she whispered:
"And if you two don't sign the guardianship papers, the people buying it are going to find out why we need the children out of that house.""
The call disconnected.
I stood there, unable to move.
Because suddenly, the November sixteenth deadline made sense.
The relocation.
The residential assessment center.
The forged signatures.
The desperate need to get four children out of the house.
It wasn't simply a marriage falling apart.
May you like
It was something they had been trying to hide.
And I had a horrible feeling that the children knew more about it than either grandmother did.
