Chapter 4

Arthur asked me to tell him everything I remembered about Calvin.

We were sitting in Grandpa's library.

Aunt Renee sat beside me.

Uncle Thomas stood near the window.

Grandma had locked herself in her bedroom upstairs.

I held my mother's photograph tightly.

Then I began talking.

"Calvin came here sometimes."

Arthur nodded.

"When?"

"At night."

Uncle Thomas frowned.

"How often?"

I thought carefully.

"Maybe once a week."

Arthur leaned forward.

"Did your grandfather know?"

I shook my head.

"Grandma said not to tell him."

The adults exchanged looks.

My stomach tightened.

"Am I in trouble?"

Aunt Renee immediately hugged me.

"No, sweetheart."

Arthur shook his head.

"You haven't done anything wrong."

I nodded.

Then continued.

"Calvin always wore a gray coat. He drove a black car."

Uncle Thomas looked concerned.

"Did you hear their conversations?"

"Sometimes."

Arthur spoke gently.

"Only tell us what you remember. Don't guess."

I nodded.

That made me feel better.

I thought about one night when I couldn't sleep.

I had gone downstairs for water.

Grandma and Calvin were standing in the kitchen.

He held a folder.

Grandma looked angry.

I remembered her saying, "Marcus is asking questions."

Calvin answered, "Then keep him away from the accounts."

I didn't know what accounts meant.

I thought they were talking about the grocery budget.

But Grandpa looked worried the next morning.

He asked whether I'd heard anyone downstairs.

I told him the truth.

He became very quiet.

Then hugged me.

I looked at Arthur.

"Grandpa knew someone was coming here."

Arthur nodded slowly.

"Maybe."

I continued.

"Calvin was here the night before Grandpa went to the hospital."

The room became silent.

Arthur leaned forward.

"Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"I saw his car."

Uncle Thomas stepped closer.

"What happened?"

I swallowed.

"Grandma and Calvin were arguing."

"About what?"

I looked down.

"Something Grandpa signed."

Arthur's expression changed.

Then he asked whether I remembered anything else.

I nodded.

"Grandma said, 'He won't change his mind.'"

I looked at Arthur.

"Calvin told her, 'Then we need another way.'"

The adults went silent.

I felt frightened.

"Did they hurt Grandpa?"

Arthur's face softened.

"We don't know, Maya."

My eyes filled.

"Grandpa got sick the next day."

Aunt Renee pulled me into her arms.

"Sweetheart, nobody is going to assume what happened without evidence."

I nodded.

But I could tell the adults were worried.

Arthur stood.

"I'm going to contact the attorney handling the estate records and arrange a review of the ledger."

Uncle Thomas nodded.

"And I'll call the physician who treated Marcus."

My stomach tightened.

"Why?"

He looked at me gently.

"Because we want to understand everything."

I stared toward Grandpa's empty chair.

I wanted the same thing.

Later that afternoon, Arthur asked Renee to take me home with her for the night.

I resisted immediately.

"No!"

She looked surprised.

"Maya?"

I clutched my mother's photograph.

"Grandpa promised I could stay here!"

My voice broke.

I thought they were sending me away too.

Aunt Renee knelt.

"Baby, listen."

I shook my head.

"No!"

She held my hands.

"You're not losing your home."

I stared at her.

"Then why do I have to leave?"

"Because we need to make sure the house is safe while the adults handle the situation."

I looked toward the stairs.

"Grandma's here."

Renee nodded.

"I know."

I swallowed.

"Will she take my things?"

Arthur stepped forward.

"We'll document and protect your belongings."

I stared at him.

"Promise?"

He nodded.

"I promise we'll take appropriate steps to protect what your grandfather left you."

I still didn't want to go.

But Aunt Renee offered to let me bring Daisy, my stuffed rabbit, and my favorite blanket.

I finally agreed.

We packed a small bag.

As I walked through my bedroom, I noticed the little wooden box on my dresser was open.

Inside, I kept the bracelet Grandpa had given me for my ninth birthday.

It was gone.

I froze.

"Where's my bracelet?"

Renee stepped closer.

"What bracelet?"

"The silver one."

I began searching.

Under the bed.

Inside the drawer.

Behind my books.

Nothing.

I felt panic rising.

"Grandpa gave it to me!"

Renee hugged me.

"We'll look for it."

I shook my head.

"Grandma took it."

"Did you see her?"

I hesitated.

"No."

Renee nodded gently.

"Then let's not assume. We'll make a list of what's missing."

I swallowed.

She was right.

But I had a terrible feeling.

Grandma had been going through my things.

That evening, at Renee's house, I lay awake staring at the ceiling.

Her guest room smelled like lavender.

Daisy rested beside my pillow.

But everything felt strange.

I missed Grandpa's footsteps.

I missed the sound of his television.

I missed the way he called goodnight from the hallway.

I began crying quietly.

Renee came in.

She sat beside me.

"Can't sleep?"

I shook my head.

She stroked my braids.

"Want to talk about him?"

I nodded.

I told her about the pancakes.

The crossword puzzles.

The way Grandpa pretended he couldn't remember my favorite ice cream flavor.

Renee laughed through her tears.

Then she told me stories about my mother.

She said Danielle used to sing while washing dishes.

She said Mom loved yellow flowers.

And she said Mom had been proud of me from the day I was born.

I listened until my eyes grew heavy.

Then I whispered, "Why doesn't Grandma love me?"

Renee's face changed.

"Oh, baby."

I looked at her.

"Did I do something wrong?"

She shook her head.

"Absolutely not."

I began crying.

"Then why does she want me gone?"

Renee pulled me close.

"Some adults make harmful choices because of their own problems. Those choices are not a child's fault."

I held her tightly.

She kissed my forehead.

"You deserve love, Maya."

I nodded against her shoulder.

For the first time that day, I felt a little safe.

The next morning, Arthur called Renee.

His voice sounded serious.

I watched her expression change.

"What?"

She listened.

Then covered her mouth.

"Oh my God."

My stomach tightened.

When she ended the call, I asked what happened.

She knelt beside me.

"Arthur found something in the ledger."

I swallowed.

"What?"

She hesitated.

Then said, "Your grandfather had been documenting money taken from your mother's estate."

My heart pounded.

"Grandma took Mommy's money?"

Renee's eyes filled.

"That's what the records suggest."

I stared at her.

Then she continued.

"And there's another name connected to the transfers."

I knew before she said it.

Calvin.

But when Renee spoke again, I realized the truth was even worse.

"Calvin wasn't just Grandma's friend."

I looked at her.

"Then who was he?"

She took a shaky breath.

"He was the person managing the money that was supposed to help raise you."

I stopped breathing.

Because suddenly, I understood why Grandpa had been keeping secrets.

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