Chapter 1
My stepmother snatched the white honor stole from my shoulders in front of forty people at my graduation party.
Then she shoved a financial envelope toward my face.
"You're not keeping all that money!"
The backyard went silent.
My name is Nia Williams.
I had turned eighteen three weeks earlier, graduated at the top of my high school class, and earned a scholarship to study nursing at Howard University.
I should have been celebrating.
Instead, I stood beside my graduation cake, struggling not to cry while my stepmother tried to take the money my grandmother had spent years saving for me.
Monica Williams had been married to my father for seven years.
She wore a burgundy blouse, beige pants, and the same expression she always wore when something didn't go her way.
Her fingers tightened around the envelope.
"Did you hear me, Nia?"
I stared at her.
"Give me my stole back."
She laughed.
"You're worried about a piece of fabric?"
"It's mine."
"So is that money, apparently."
Several guests looked away.
My best friend, Jasmine, stood near the buffet table with her mouth open.
My father, David, had been talking to our neighbors beside the wooden deck.
When he heard Monica shouting, he hurried toward us.
"What's happening?"
Monica pointed at me.
"Your daughter thinks she's walking away with a fortune while the rest of us struggle."
I felt my face burn.
"Grandma saved that money for my college."
Monica waved the envelope.
"That fund belongs to this family!"
I reached for my stole.
She jerked it away.
"Don't grab things from me!"
I pulled it from her hands.
She stumbled backward, more surprised than hurt.
For seven years, I'd usually backed down when she raised her voice.
Not today.
"Don't touch my graduation clothes again."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Listen to that attitude."
Dad stepped between us.
"Both of you, stop."
I looked at him.
"Dad, she's trying to take Grandma's college fund."
He frowned.
"Monica, what fund?"
My stomach dropped.
He didn't know?
Grandma Evelyn had started saving for my education before I was born.
Every birthday, she gave me a little money for candy and put something else into my college account.
When I turned sixteen, she told me the fund had grown enough to help pay for tuition, books, housing, and anything my scholarship didn't cover.
She said it was her way of making sure I could follow my dreams.
Monica learned about it last month.
Since then, she'd been asking questions.
How much was there?
Who controlled it?
Could it be used for other family expenses?
I told her to speak with Grandma.
Apparently, she hadn't liked that answer.
"Dad," I whispered, "please tell her to stop."
He looked at Monica.
"Maybe we should discuss this privately."
My heart sank.
Privately.
That was always his answer.
When Monica criticized my clothes.
When she made me babysit her younger children instead of studying.
When she said my scholarship didn't matter because I would probably change my mind about college.
We always discussed things privately.
And somehow, I always ended up apologizing.
Monica folded her arms.
"David, we have bills. Your daughter doesn't need all that money."
I stared at her.
"I didn't ask you to pay for my college."
She stepped closer.
"You live under our roof."
"Dad pays for this house too."
Her face twisted.
"Ungrateful little girl."
I looked at my father.
He stared at the grass.
I felt tears filling my eyes.
"Dad?"
He finally looked up.
"Maybe your grandmother could help with the family expenses and still leave enough for school."
I stopped breathing.
"You agree with her?"
He hesitated.
"Nia, I'm just saying we should consider everyone's needs."
I couldn't believe it.
My graduation balloons were still floating above us.
My cake had my name written in purple frosting.
My acceptance letter to Howard sat framed beside the gifts.
And my father was standing there discussing whether the money Grandma saved for me should belong to someone else.
Monica smiled.
"You see? Your father understands."
Something inside me broke.
I removed my graduation cap and placed it on the table.
"Then I guess this party is over."
Jasmine stepped forward.
"Nia, don't."
But I couldn't stand there another second.
I turned toward the house.
Then a familiar voice stopped me.
"Nobody is going anywhere."
I froze.
Grandma Evelyn stood near the patio gate.
She was seventy-one, with short silver-gray hair and a blue patterned jacket.
In her right hand, she carried a large white folder.
She had been inside resting because the afternoon heat made her tired.
Apparently, she'd heard enough.
"Grandma?"
She walked directly toward me.
Her expression was calm.
But I recognized the look in her eyes.
Grandma wasn't angry often.
When she was, people listened.
Monica immediately changed her tone.
"Evelyn, we're having a family discussion."
Grandma looked at her.
"No, Monica. You're trying to take something that doesn't belong to you."
Monica's smile disappeared.
"This money should benefit the whole family."
Grandma shook her head.
"I decided exactly where it goes."
Then she turned toward Dad.
"David, take this."
She handed him an official document.
Dad unfolded the first page.
I watched his eyes move across the words.
His expression changed.
"Mom?"
Grandma didn't blink.
"Keep reading."
Monica stepped forward.
"Let me see that."
Dad moved the paper away.
I had never seen him do that before.
"David, give it to me!"
He ignored her.
His eyes moved toward the bottom of the page.
Then he looked at Grandma.
"Is this real?"
She nodded.
"Every word."
Monica's face lost its color.
I stared at them.
"What does it say?"
Grandma placed one hand on my shoulder.
"Something your stepmother should have understood before she touched your graduation stole."
Dad looked completely stunned.
Monica reached for the document again.
Grandma's voice became firm.
"David, read the second page."
He turned the sheet.
Then stopped breathing.
The paper shook in his hands.
Monica whispered, "Evelyn, please."
I stared at her.
For the first time in seven years, my stepmother looked frightened.
Not angry.
Not offended.
Frightened.
Dad slowly raised his eyes.
"Monica..."
She shook her head.
"Don't."
He looked at me.
Then back at Grandma.
And I realized the college fund wasn't the only thing hidden inside that folder.
There was something else.
Something involving my father.
Something Monica desperately didn't want me to know.
Grandma squeezed my hand.
"Go ahead, David."
May you like
Her voice was steady.
"Tell your daughter what your wife tried to do."
