Chapter 5
I wanted to scream when Naomi told us someone had questioned Grandpa's mental capacity.
Instead, I sat perfectly still.
My hands were clenched beneath the table.
Grandpa looked exhausted.
For a moment, his shoulders seemed to sink.
Then he raised his head.
"Who said I couldn't manage my finances?"
Naomi answered carefully.
"The bank received an inquiry from someone associated with Marcus's financial adviser."
Grandpa's eyes hardened.
"Did they provide medical evidence?"
"Not that we've seen."
He nodded slowly.
"Then they can stop wasting everyone's time."
I almost smiled.
That was Grandpa.
Even frightened, he refused to let anyone speak for him.
But I could see the pain beneath his confidence.
He had spent decades building a property company.
He negotiated contracts.
Managed employees.
Bought and sold buildings.
And now his own family was trying to convince strangers he couldn't make decisions.
I looked at Naomi.
"Can they really do that?"
She took a breath.
"People can raise concerns, but concerns aren't proof. Any legal determination would require the appropriate process and evidence."
I nodded.
Grandpa leaned forward.
"What do we do?"
Naomi explained the next steps.
An independent medical assessment if necessary.
A review of the disputed authorizations.
Additional account safeguards.
And formal instructions making clear who could communicate with the bank.
I listened carefully.
For the first time, I understood how important paperwork could be.
Not because documents were more important than people.
But because the wrong documents could be used to hurt someone.
That afternoon, Grandpa insisted on visiting his physician.
He wanted his health documented accurately.
I went with him.
Dr. Samuel Price had treated Grandpa for more than twenty years.
He greeted us warmly.
"Arthur, how are you feeling?"
Grandpa laughed.
"Apparently, I'm supposed to be losing my mind."
Dr. Price frowned.
"What?"
Grandpa explained the concerns.
The doctor listened carefully.
Then examined him.
He reviewed his medications.
Asked questions about memory.
Discussed his hearing.
And assessed whether further evaluation was appropriate.
I watched Grandpa answer everything.
He knew the date.
His medications.
The names of his tenants.
The address of every property he owned.
He even corrected Dr. Price about the year they first met.
The doctor laughed.
"You're right. It was 2001."
Grandpa grinned.
"Told you."
I felt relief rising.
But Dr. Price remained serious.
He explained that medical capacity was specific to the decision involved and that a proper assessment mattered more than assumptions based on age or hearing loss.
Grandpa nodded.
"That's exactly what I wanted documented."
I smiled.
For the first time since Christmas, I felt some control returning.
Then something unexpected happened.
As we left the office, Grandpa stopped beside the elevator.
He touched my arm.
"Maya."
I looked up.
"Yes?"
His eyes filled.
"I'm sorry."
I frowned.
"For what?"
"For putting you in the middle of this."
My throat tightened.
I shook my head.
"Grandpa, you didn't cause this."
He looked away.
"I should've handled my finances more carefully."
I took his hand.
"You trusted your son."
His eyes filled.
"Yes."
I swallowed.
"That doesn't make you foolish."
He looked at me.
Then gave a sad smile.
"Your grandmother used to say the same thing."
I laughed through tears.
"Of course she did."
We hugged.
For a moment, I wished Grandma were there.
She would've known what to say.
She would've looked Dad in the eyes and demanded answers.
Then she'd probably made Grandpa his favorite peach cobbler.
I smiled at the thought.
Grandpa noticed.
"What?"
I shook my head.
"Just thinking about Grandma."
His expression softened.
"Me too."
That evening, Dad came to Grandpa's house.
I was in the kitchen making soup when the doorbell rang.
Grandpa opened the door.
Marcus stood outside wearing a dark coat.
His face looked tired.
"Pop."
Grandpa remained in the doorway.
"Marcus."
Dad glanced past him.
"Can we talk?"
Grandpa took a breath.
"About what?"
Dad lowered his voice.
"About the bank."
My stomach tightened.
I walked into the hallway.
Dad saw me.
His expression changed.
"Maya, this doesn't concern you."
I stared at him.
"Grandma's trust concerns me."
He sighed.
"You're making everything worse."
Grandpa's voice became firm.
"No, Marcus. She isn't."
Dad looked furious.
"Pop, you're letting her turn you against your own family."
Grandpa stared.
"Then explain the missing money."
Dad crossed his arms.
"We've discussed this."
"No."
Grandpa shook his head.
"You've given excuses."
My father stepped closer.
"Those investments were meant to protect everyone."
Grandpa's expression hardened.
"Then why didn't you ask permission?"
Silence.
Dad looked toward me.
I felt cold.
He was searching for someone to blame.
Finally, he said, "Mom would've understood."
Grandpa went completely still.
For a moment, I thought he might shout.
Instead, he spoke quietly.
"Don't use your mother's memory to defend what you've done."
Dad looked shocked.
Grandpa continued.
"Evelyn worked beside me for forty-three years."
His voice broke.
"She saved carefully because she wanted Maya to have opportunities."
I felt tears rising.
Grandpa pointed toward the driveway.
"Until you can speak honestly, I want you to leave."
Dad stared.
"You're throwing me out?"
Grandpa shook his head.
"I'm asking you to respect my home."
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Dad looked at me.
"You've really poisoned him."
I swallowed.
"No, Dad."
My voice shook.
"You did that yourself."
His face hardened.
Then he turned and left.
I watched his car disappear down the street.
Grandpa stood beside me.
His hands were trembling.
I reached for him.
He hugged me tightly.
For the first time, I understood that standing up to family could be both necessary and heartbreaking.
Then Grandpa's phone rang.
Naomi.
He answered.
His expression changed immediately.
"What?"
I stepped closer.
He listened carefully.
Then looked toward me.
"Are you sure?"
My stomach tightened.
He ended the call.
"Maya."
His voice was serious.
I swallowed.
"What happened?"
He took a breath.
"Naomi found another account."
I stared.
"What account?"
Grandpa's eyes filled.
"One opened using my name without my knowledge."
My chest tightened.
Then he added something that made the room spin.
"It contains a loan against one of my properties."
I stopped breathing.
Dad hadn't only moved money.
May you like
Someone had put Grandpa's home and business assets at risk.
And the debt was much larger than anything we'd discovered before.
