Chapter 2: The Money My Mother Left
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I looked at Dad.
Then at Vanessa.
"What money?"" I asked.
Vanessa gave me a small, satisfied smile.
"Exactly.""
Dad placed the broken halo on my desk.
"Vanessa, what are you talking about?""
She sighed dramatically, as if she were the only reasonable person in the room.
"Your daughter has been making purchases for weeks. Fabric, feathers, wire, sewing supplies. I found the receipts. I assumed you knew.""
Dad looked at me.
"Sweetheart, what receipts?""
"I used my dog-walking money," I explained.
"The money I saved.""
Vanessa laughed.
"That's what she told me, too.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
She turned toward Dad.
"There's no point pretending. Maya has access to an account that should have been used for household expenses. I've seen the statements.""
My stomach tightened.
"What account?""
Dad's expression became cold.
"Vanessa. Explain.""
Instead of answering, she walked to the hallway table and picked up her handbag.
"Not in front of the children.""
"I'm sixteen," I said.
She ignored me.
Dad took one step toward her.
"You brought this up. Now explain it.""
Vanessa glanced at Brielle.
"Take the costume off, sweetheart.""
Brielle reluctantly began removing the wings.
She struggled with the broken straps, and one of the silver stars fell onto the floor.
I watched it land.
A tiny piece of my month-long effort.
Dad noticed.
He picked it up and placed it in my palm.
"Go downstairs and get some water, Maya. I'll be there in a minute.""
I didn't want to leave.
I wanted him to hear everything.
But his expression told me he needed to speak to Vanessa privately.
I walked downstairs.
From the kitchen, I could hear their voices.
"You told me the account was closed," Dad said.
"It was supposed to be.""
"That isn't an answer.""
"Daniel, I was trying to protect this family.""
"From what?""
"From Maya spending money she doesn't understand!""
I stopped outside the kitchen.
My hands were shaking.
Then Dad asked a question.
"How did you get access to that account?""
There was a pause.
Vanessa answered quietly.
"I found the paperwork in your study.""
"That account was established for Maya.""
"I know.""
"You knew?""
"Of course I knew!""
Her voice rose.
"Your first wife made sure everything went to that child. The house, the savings, the insurance money. What exactly was I supposed to do? Live in a home where I have no authority?""
Dad's voice dropped.
"You were supposed to leave my daughter's money alone.""
I heard a chair scrape against the floor.
Then silence.
I walked into the kitchen.
Both of them turned toward me.
Dad looked startled.
Vanessa looked furious.
"Didn't I tell you to wait upstairs?"" Dad asked gently.
"I heard what she said.""
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"Then perhaps you understand why I've been frustrated.""
I stared at her.
"What account are you talking about?""
Dad pulled out a chair.
"Sit down, sweetheart.""
I sat.
He took a deep breath.
"When your mother died, she left money for you. Some of it came from life insurance. Some came from her savings. The money was placed in a trust for your education and future.""
I blinked.
"I thought you paid for everything.""
"I did. I never touched that money.""
Vanessa scoffed.
"Except now it's sitting there while everyone else has to pay for things.""
Dad turned toward her.
"That money isn't yours.""
"I never said it was.""
"You just admitted you accessed the account.""
Vanessa's lips tightened.
I looked between them.
"How much money is there?""
Dad hesitated.
"Originally, a little over two hundred thousand dollars.""
The number seemed impossible.
Two hundred thousand.
I had spent three weeks saving forty dollars to buy feathers and fabric.
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I wanted you to grow up without worrying about money. Your mother wanted it to be there when you were ready for college.""
My eyes filled.
I remembered Mom sitting beside me at the kitchen table, showing me how to sew a straight line.
I remembered her saying that I should always have something of my own.
Something nobody could take away.
I hadn't understood what she meant.
Now I did.
Vanessa leaned against the counter.
"Daniel, you're making it sound as if I've stolen something. I've been managing the household for three years.""
Dad looked at her.
"Managing the household doesn't give you access to Maya's trust.""
"I didn't withdraw anything.""
"Then how do you know what's in it?""
She didn't answer.
Dad reached for his phone.
"I'm calling the bank.""
Vanessa's face changed.
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"I'm going to ask them for a complete statement.""
"Daniel!""
He walked into the dining room.
I remained seated.
Brielle appeared at the kitchen entrance, no longer wearing my wings.
She looked at me, then at her mother.
"Mom, what's going on?""
Vanessa turned toward her.
"Go upstairs.""
"But—"
"NOW.""
Brielle disappeared.
Vanessa looked back at me.
For a moment, her face lost its usual polished expression.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?""
I stared at her.
"No.""
"Don't pretend you're innocent. Your father has spent years putting you first. Everything in this house revolves around you.""
I looked at my torn fingers.
"I just wanted to wear my costume.""
She rolled her eyes.
"Always the victim.""
Dad returned before I could respond.
He was holding his phone.
"There's a problem," he said.
Vanessa immediately straightened.
"What problem?""
"The bank says there was a withdrawal request three months ago.""
I looked up.
"How much?""
Dad swallowed.
"Thirty-five thousand dollars.""
My mouth fell open.
Vanessa stepped forward.
"That was for the house.""
Dad turned toward her.
"You told me you paid for the kitchen renovation with your own savings.""
"I did.""
"Then why was there a withdrawal request from Maya's trust?""
Vanessa looked at me.
Then she looked at Dad.
"It was only a request. The bank rejected it.""
Dad stared at her.
"Who submitted it?""
She didn't answer.
He looked down at the screen.
Then his eyes moved to the signature.
His voice became almost a whisper.
"Vanessa, this isn't your signature.""
She shook her head quickly.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
Dad enlarged the document.
"Someone signed Maya's name.""
My stomach dropped.
I looked at the screen.
The signature was supposed to be mine.
It wasn't.
The letters were awkward, but the name was recognizable.
Maya Carter.
I had never signed that document.
"I didn't do that," I whispered.
Dad looked at me immediately.
"I know.""
Vanessa took a step backward.
"Daniel, don't jump to conclusions.""
He raised his phone.
"I'm not. I'm reading what the bank sent me.""
Then he turned toward me.
"There's something else, sweetheart.""
"What?""
He hesitated.
"The bank says the withdrawal request wasn't the only suspicious activity.""
He scrolled.
"Someone has been trying to change the beneficiary information on your trust.""
I felt the room tilt.
"Change it to who?""
Dad didn't answer immediately.
He looked at the document.
Then he read the name aloud.
"Vanessa Whitmore.""
For the first time, Vanessa stopped pretending to be offended.
She looked genuinely frightened.
May you like
And when Dad asked her why she had tried to put her own name on my mother's money, she gave an answer I would never forget.
"Because your daughter isn't the only child who deserves a future.""
