PART 3

Before Melissa could answer, the back gate swung open.

William came first.

Then George and Ryan.

Elaine followed with one hand pressed to her chest. Behind them, the twins hovered until George pointed them back toward the yard.

“Gaia?” William asked, looking at the pouch in my hand. “What happened?”

Melissa’s face crumpled instantly.

“She attacked me.”

I held up the pouch.

“She came out of our garage with this hidden under her skirt.”

“That’s a lie!” Melissa cried. “I caught her with Mom’s necklace.”

Elaine whispered, “Melissa…”

“Elaine gave it to me for safekeeping,” I said. “I locked it in the garage cabinet.”

Ryan closed his eyes.

“Mel.”

William’s jaw tightened.

“Tell me Gaia is wrong.”

Melissa looked at him.

“Will…”

“Tell me.”

“She gets everything!” Melissa snapped. “The cookout. The praise. Mom acting like Gaia is some saint because she drives her to appointments.”

Elaine’s eyes filled.

“You think love is something people steal from you?”

Melissa turned on her.

“She is not your daughter.”

“No,” Elaine said. “But she has loved me like one.”

George stepped forward.

“Did you take your mother’s necklace?”

Melissa looked down.

“Answer me,” George said.

Ryan rubbed a hand over his face.

“She was angry before we came,” he admitted. “She said you were making a mistake, Elaine. I didn’t know she would do this.”

Melissa stared at him.

“You were supposed to be on my side.”

Ryan looked exhausted.

“I was. For years. I’m tired.”

A siren chirped once at the curb.

Melissa turned to me, her eyes hard.

“You really called them.”

“I told you I would.”

Two officers walked up the driveway.

I stepped forward.

“That is my mother-in-law’s necklace,” I said. “She gave it to me to keep safe. Melissa took it from our garage cabinet and tried to leave with it hidden under her skirt.”

Melissa scoffed.

“Listen to her. She sounds rehearsed.”

“No,” William said, stepping beside me.

The officer turned to Elaine.

“Ma’am?”

Elaine wiped her face.

“The necklace is mine. I trusted Gaia with it.”

“And did Melissa have permission to take it?”

Elaine looked at her daughter.

“No.”

George’s voice cut through the yard.

“She did not have permission to be in the garage either.”

Melissa’s mouth twisted.

“So that’s it? Everyone is choosing her?”

“No, Melissa,” Elaine said. “Everyone is choosing the truth.”

Ryan let out a tired breath.

“Mel, stop. You did this.”

The officer asked Elaine if she wanted a report.

“Write it down,” Elaine said.

“Mom,” Melissa whispered.

Elaine’s voice trembled, but it did not break.

“No one stole your place. You threw it away every time you refused to be happy for your own family.”

Melissa looked at William.

“You’re letting Mom do this? You’re letting your wife do this?”

William’s hand settled against my back.

“Gaia isn’t doing this. You are.”

For once, Melissa had no reply.

Ryan led her toward the car. At the gate, she turned back.

“You’ll regret this.”

I stepped forward.

“No. This family is done cleaning up after you and calling it peace.”

The car pulled away.

After the officers left, the backyard stayed silent until Mason called out,

“Are we still doing fireworks?”

George sniffed.

“Absolutely. Cold hot dogs and bad behavior do not cancel America.”

Maisie giggled, and something in all of us loosened.

Elaine turned to me with the pearls in her hand.

“Only if you’re sure,” I said.

She fastened them around my neck.

“I’m more sure now.”

The first firework opened above the lake.

For years, I had tried to earn my place in that family.

That night, I finally stopped trying.

Because I already had one.