Chapter 1: The Question Nobody Wanted Answered
“I want to hear from her.””
Nia's words were calm, but something in her expression made me pay attention.
Claire straightened her blouse.
“I'm her mother,” she said.
“I know when she's stressed.””
Nia didn't argue.
She simply turned toward Maya.
“Sweetheart, when did the pain start?””
Maya looked at her mother.
Then at me.
Her fingers tightened around the sleeve of my jacket.
“Yesterday,” she whispered.
Claire immediately interrupted.
“She said this afternoon.””
Nia glanced at her.
“I asked Maya.””
The silence that followed was uncomfortable.
I felt Maya trembling against my arm.
“Baby, tell her the truth. Nobody's going to be angry with you.””
Maya swallowed.
“Yesterday at school. But it wasn't really bad until last night.””
I stared at Claire.
“Last night?””
My wife rubbed her forehead.
“Marcus, children exaggerate. She complained about a stomachache before bed, and I gave her something for it.””
“What did you give her?””
“Something from the medicine cabinet.””
“What something?””
“Tylenol, I think.””
“You think?””
Claire's jaw tightened.
“Can we please focus on getting her treated instead of interrogating me?””
Nia stepped closer.
“Mr. Bennett, we're taking her for an examination. I'll need a little space, but you can come with us.””
A nurse began pushing Maya's wheelchair toward the treatment area.
I walked beside her, holding her hand.
Claire followed, her heels clicking against the hospital floor.
We passed a row of examination rooms before entering a small bay with pale blue curtains. A young doctor introduced himself as Dr. Patel.
He asked Maya several questions.
Where did it hurt?
Did the pain move?
Had she been nauseated?
Had she eaten anything unusual?
Maya answered quietly.
When he asked her to rate the pain, she held up eight fingers.
Then he examined her carefully.
I watched his expression change.
He pressed gently near her lower right abdomen.
Maya cried out.
Dr. Patel immediately stopped.
“Okay. That's enough. We're going to get some tests done.””
Claire folded her arms.
“Could it just be anxiety? She's been under pressure because of her piano competition.””
The doctor looked at her.
“Severe abdominal pain in a child needs to be evaluated medically. We shouldn't assume it's anxiety.””
He ordered blood work, an ultrasound, and medication to help control Maya's pain.
While the nurse prepared the IV, Maya grabbed my hand.
“Daddy?””
“I'm here.””
“Am I going to need surgery?””
My stomach tightened.
“Let's find out what the doctor says first.””
She nodded, but her eyes filled again.
Claire stood near the foot of the bed, checking her phone.
I couldn't believe it.
Our daughter was frightened, attached to an IV, and struggling to breathe through her pain.
My wife was answering text messages.
“Claire.””
She looked up.
“What?””
“Put the phone away.””
Her eyebrows rose.
“Excuse me?””
“Your daughter is scared.””
“I've been dealing with this all day, Marcus.””
I stared at her.
“Have you?””
She didn't answer.
A few minutes later, Nia returned with a small blanket.
She tucked it around Maya and smiled.
“Your dad can stay right here.””
Maya looked at her.
“Can my mom stay too?””
Claire finally put her phone down.
“Of course, sweetheart.””
But Maya didn't reach for her.
She reached for me.
I told myself it was because I had walked into the kitchen and taken her to the hospital.
I told myself she was simply frightened.
I didn't want to consider any other explanation.
An hour passed.
Then another.
Dr. Patel returned with the preliminary results.
His expression was serious.
“We're concerned about appendicitis. The ultrasound wasn't completely clear, but her blood work shows significant inflammation. We need additional imaging and a pediatric surgical consultation.””
Claire exhaled dramatically.
“See? It's probably just an appendix. We can deal with that.””
I turned toward her.
“Probably?””
She shrugged.
“It's a common procedure.””
Dr. Patel looked between us.
“If this is appendicitis, delaying treatment can be dangerous. We need to move quickly.””
Maya began crying again.
I leaned down.
“Hey, sweetheart. Look at me.””
She did.
“You're not alone. I promise.””
She nodded.
Then she whispered something that made the room feel suddenly smaller.
“Daddy, can I tell you something without Mom getting mad?””
Claire's head snapped toward her.
“What is that supposed to mean?””
Maya immediately went quiet.
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
“Claire, give us a minute.””
“I'm not leaving my daughter's room.””
Dr. Patel stepped forward.
“Perhaps we should give Maya a little privacy while we prepare for the next test.””
Claire looked furious, but she eventually stepped into the hallway.
I sat beside Maya.
“Okay, baby. What do you want to tell me?””
She looked toward the curtain.
Then she leaned closer.
“Mom said I wasn't allowed to tell you how bad it hurt.””
My throat tightened.
“Why would she say that?””
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
“She said you would cancel your business trip, and then everyone would blame her.””
I couldn't speak.
My business trip.
I had been scheduled to leave the following morning for a three-day conference in Chicago.
I had spent weeks preparing for it.
Claire had repeatedly assured me that everything at home was fine.
I looked at my little girl.
“Did you ask Mom to call me?””
Maya nodded.
“Yesterday.””
“And what happened?””
“She said you were busy.””
I felt my fingers curl around the edge of the mattress.
“Did she call me?””
Maya shook her head.
Then she said something I would hear in my nightmares for years.
“She took my phone away because I kept trying to call you.””
I stared at her.
My daughter wasn't just afraid of the pain.
She was afraid of telling me about it.
Before I could ask another question, the curtain moved.
Claire stepped back inside.
“What's going on?””
May you like
Maya immediately turned her face toward the wall.
And for the first time in our twelve years of marriage, I looked at my wife and wondered whether I actually knew the woman standing in front of me.
