Chương 7
I moved out on the agreed date.
Darius helped carry boxes. Simone brought lunch. My mother offered advice until I asked her to label cartons instead.
She did.
Nia’s belongings had been collected the week before. The house felt larger without furniture and quieter without plans being spoken over everyone else.
I left the keys on the kitchen counter until Claire arrived. Then I picked them up and placed them in her hand.
“These are the spare sets,” I said. “Your lawyer advised changing the locks anyway.”
“I’ve booked the locksmith.”
“Good.”
Ava came through the back door and looked at the grill.
“Are we still having burgers here?”
“If Mom wants,” I said.
Claire smiled at her.
“Maybe when we’re settled.”
Ava ran upstairs to her room. The moon lamp was waiting.
I walked Claire through the practical things: the water shutoff, the furnace filter, the old latch on the shed. She knew much of it already. She had lived here before.
When I started explaining the kitchen drawers, she laughed.
“I chose those cabinets, Andre.”
I stopped.
“You did.”
“And I know where the pots go.”
I smiled sadly.
“I’ll let you put them there.”
Before leaving, I gave her the photograph.
She looked at it for a long time.
“Thank you for keeping it.”
“It belongs to both of you too.”
She placed it against the wall beside Ava’s school picture.
I left without asking whether she would hang it.
At my apartment that night, the silence was different. There was no backyard to distract me, no large house to make my life look settled.
I put together Ava’s bed and placed a second moon lamp on the shelf. Claire had found the same model online and sent me the link.
I thanked her.
We were learning to cooperate through ordinary tasks.
The financial case moved forward. The supplier records and Malik’s own accounting showed he used the deposit for expenses unrelated to my property. His promise to repay it had not been fulfilled.
Through the lawyers, he agreed to a settlement with a repayment schedule and enforceable terms. The smaller unauthorized transfers were included after review. Nia agreed to repay the portion she had directed separately.
I knew receiving the money would take time. I also knew the amounts were finally written clearly instead of hidden behind family loyalty.
Ms. Brooks asked whether I wanted to pursue other remedies based on the records. She explained the options and limits. I chose the route she recommended for recovering the money efficiently while preserving the evidence if Malik failed again.
The first payment arrived in September.
I sent Claire the part required under the final settlement reconciliation. The rest went toward the debts I should have addressed years earlier.
I did not buy furniture to make the apartment look impressive.
Ava’s first overnight visit came the following Friday. I cooked spaghetti. She helped stir the sauce and told me the balcony was a good place for a plant.
“We can get one,” I said.
“A tough one. You forget watering.”
“I’m improving.”
She grinned.
At bedtime, she asked whether I was lonely.
“Sometimes.”
“Should I stay extra?”
“No. You’ll go home when we planned. I can handle being lonely.”
She studied my face.
“Mom said grown-ups need friends.”
“She’s right.”
“Call Uncle Darius.”
“I will.”
After she fell asleep, I called him.
We talked for half an hour about work, rent, and the game he wanted to watch the next day. I did not ask my daughter to keep me from feeling the consequences of my choices.
In the morning, we bought a plant.
Ava chose a small one with thick green leaves.
“It looks confident,” she said.
I put it on the balcony.
When I returned her to Claire, she carried the empty plant bag like proof of a successful visit.
Claire stood on the porch, the house key in her own hand.
“How was it?” she asked.
“Good,” Ava said. “Dad has to water Tuesday.”
Claire looked at me.
May you like
“Then put it on your calendar.”
I did.
