Chapter 5
Claire called Dana three times. Each call went to voicemail.
I watched her pace the kitchen.
“When did you last see the condo?” I asked.
“Months ago.”
“You kept paying a loan on it without checking whether anyone was there?”
“Dana said she was showing it to buyers. She handled that part.”
Claire had hidden the investment from me. Dana, it seemed, had hidden something from her.
I wanted to feel satisfaction. Instead, I looked at Maya's empty account on my laptop and felt how many choices had brought us here.
“Give Mr. Grant Dana's contact details,” I said.
Claire stopped pacing.
“You hired a lawyer?”
“Yes.”
“Are you planning to leave me?”
“I'm planning to find Maya's money.”
She looked toward the stairs, where both girls' rooms were empty.
“I didn't think I'd lose all of you.”
“Then you should have told us what was happening before you took it.”
The next morning, Claire gave Mr. Grant copies of the condo papers. He arranged for records of its ownership and occupancy to be checked. Dana had leased it to a tenant almost eight months earlier. The rent had gone into an account Dana controlled.
Claire was furious.
“She told me we were waiting to sell,” she said.
“You'll need to deal with Dana,” Mr. Grant replied. “That doesn't undo your withdrawal from Maya's account.”
“I know.”
It was the first time she'd said those words without adding an excuse.
At home, Brooke came over to pick up a textbook. Claire hurried to the door when she heard her voice.
“Can we talk?” she asked.
Brooke stayed near me.
“About the car?”
“About everything.”
Brooke nodded, but she didn't go upstairs with her mother. We sat in the living room together because she asked me to stay.
Claire told her about the condo and the debt. She said she'd panicked when another payment came due, used the college fund to clear it, and bought the car because she'd already promised Brooke something spectacular.
“I wanted at least one thing to look good,” Claire said.
Brooke looked at her.
“You wanted the party to look good.”
“I wanted you to be happy.”
“I would have been happy if Maya had come to dinner with us.”
Claire's eyes filled.
“You were excited about the Mustang.”
“I thought you paid for it.”
I saw Claire finally understand how little her daughter had known. She'd turned Brooke into the reason for a decision Brooke would never have agreed to.
“I'll sell it,” Claire said.
“Good.”
Brooke stood.
“I love you. I don't want the car.”
Claire reached for her, but Brooke stepped back.
“I need you to let me be angry.”
Claire lowered her hand.
Brooke went upstairs for her book. When she left, she hugged me and asked whether Maya had eaten lunch. She had been staying with Leah and worrying about her sister between classes.
“She has,” I said. “I'll tell her you asked.”
Selling the car wasn't simple. Claire had financed part of it. A buyer's offer would have to cover that balance first. Mr. Grant helped us understand what could be recovered from the sale and what would still be owed.
The number was far below ninety-two thousand.
The condo might provide more, but Claire and Dana had to settle who owned what and where the rent had gone. It would take time.
Maya did not have time to wait for every dispute. Her nursing program required a deposit and tuition plans within weeks.
I met her at Leah's house with the school information.
“We can still make August work,” I said. “I have savings outside the college account. Leah offered help, and there are payment options.”
“I don't want you draining everything else.”
“Let's see the numbers together before either of us decides.”
She moved closer and opened her laptop. We spent an hour comparing due dates. She had earned a small scholarship. I hadn't known because she'd been waiting to surprise me after Brooke's party.
“I wanted to give you good news,” she said.
“It still is good news.”
I meant it. Claire's choices had made us work harder to protect Maya's place, but they hadn't erased what Maya had achieved.
That night, Maya came home for dinner. Brooke joined us. Claire stayed in the guest room at my request. The girls sat beside each other and talked about campus housing.
After dinner, Maya went into the study. I found her looking at a photograph of Rachel.
“She used to tell me I could be a nurse?” she asked.
“She said you could be anything. When you carried your toy medical bag everywhere, she started saying nurse.”
Maya smiled through tears.
“I don't want to give up.”
“You won't.”
My phone rang. It was Mr. Grant.
Dana's attorney had contacted him. Dana claimed Claire had agreed to let her collect the rent to cover renovation costs.
May you like
“She has documents,” he said. “Claire needs to see them.”
Then he added that one of those documents appeared to carry my name.
