Chapter 4 - The Family Tribunal
Aunt Susan’s house in Upper Arlington was grand, lit with warm yellow lights that cast long shadows across the immaculate manicured lawn. Parked along the driveway were six luxury sedans belonging to my uncles, cousins, and mother.
I parked my old sedan at the curb, turned off the engine, and sat in the dark for a moment.
My heart pounded against my ribs like a trapped bird, but my hands were steady. I felt Laya’s presence beside me—her laugh, her bright curiosity, her fierce defense of things that were small and overlooked.
I'm doing this for you, sweetie, I thought. They won't forget you.
I stepped out of the car, walked up the brick walkway, and pushed open the front door without knocking.
The living room was crowded. My mother sat in the center of a velvet sofa, holding a teacup, surrounded by my aunts, Susan and Clara. Kendra sat in a high-backed wing chair, wearing a soft gray sweater, looking fragile and pale, holding a handkerchief to her eyes. My uncles stood near the fireplace, speaking in hushed, serious tones.
The moment the front door clicked shut, the chatter died.
Every head turned toward me.
My mother stood up slowly, setting her teacup down with a sharp clink against the saucer. "Marin. I didn't expect you to have the nerve to show up here."
"This is a family meeting, isn't it?" I asked, taking three steps into the room, my voice calm, clear, and loud enough to carry into every corner. "I am part of this family. Or did you already vote me out because I refused to celebrate my daughter's killer?"
A collective gasp echoed through the room.
Aunt Susan stepped forward, her face twisted in disapproval. "Marin! How can you say such a terrible thing?! Your sister is grieving! She barely escaped that fire with her life!"
"She didn't barely escape," I snapped, turning my gaze on Susan. "She walked down the stairs. And she used her hand to shove Laya back into the inferno so she wouldn't have to slow down."
Kendra let out a dramatic, sobbing gasp, burying her face in her hands. "Marin, please! Why are you doing this to me?! I tried! I swear to God I tried to reach her! The flames were everywhere!"
"You're a liar, Kendra," I said, stepping closer to her chair. "The flames weren't on the stairs. The smoke was thick, but the path was open. You looked Laya in the eye, and you pushed her."
"That's enough!" my mother shouted, stepping between me and Kendra, her eyes blazing with a terrifying, familiar fury. "You will not attack your sister in this house! You are traumatized, Marin! You're letting grief turn you insane!"
"I'm not insane, Mom," I said, looking straight into Marjorie's cold face. "And I haven't forgotten what you said on the front lawn while my daughter was burning inside."
The room went silent.
Uncle Richard, my mother's older brother, frowned. "What are you talking about, Marjorie?"
My mother’s face flushed red, a flicker of panic crossing her features before she smoothed it over. "She's making things up, Richard! She's hysterical!"
"Tell them what you said, Mom," I demanded, raising my voice. "Tell Uncle Richard and Aunt Clara what you said when I asked where Laya was. Tell them why you didn't care that my daughter was left behind!"
"Marin, stop it!" Marjorie hissed.
"'At least she saved the boy,'" I quoted loudly, my voice cutting through the elegant room like a executioner's blade. "'Boys are worth more. Boys carry the family. Laya was independent, but Caleb needs protection.'"
Uncle Richard looked at my mother, his brow furrowing deeply. "Marjorie? Did you say that?"
"Of course not!" Marjorie lied instantly, though her trembling hands betrayed her. "I was in shock! I don't even remember what I said! Marin is twisting my words because she's jealous that Caleb survived!"
"Jealous?" I took a step closer to my mother, my shadow falling over her. "Caleb is a ten-year-old child. I love my nephew. But Caleb isn't lying for you anymore, Kendra."
Kendra’s head snapped up. Her face, previously pale, turned completely ghostly white. "What... what did you say?"
"Nathan took Caleb to a child psychologist this morning," I revealed, watching the absolute terror take root in Kendra's eyes. "Caleb gave a full recorded statement. He told the therapist exactly how you shoved Laya. He told them how you threatened him on the lawn and told him to lie to the police."
Kendra began to shake violently. "No... no, Nathan can't do that! Caleb is my son!"
"Not anymore," I said coldly. "The family court judge signed an emergency order two hours ago. Your custody is suspended. And Detective Reed has Caleb's statement."
Aunt Susan looked between Kendra and me, her confidence wavering. Uncle Richard stepped back from my mother, a look of profound disgust crossing his face.
My mother stood frozen, realizing that her carefully constructed narrative was crumbling around her feet.
"You're destroying this family, Marin," Marjorie whispered, her voice dripping with pure venom. "You're throwing your sister to the wolves over an accident."
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"My daughter is dead, Mom," I said, tears finally spilling down my cheeks, though my voice remained hard as steel. "And if destroying this toxic, pathetic family is the price of getting justice for Laya, then I will burn it to the ground myself."
I turned on my heel and walked out of the house, leaving them to simmer in their own exposed lies.
