Chapter 5
I thought seventy-two thousand dollars was an impossible amount of money.
Then Aaron told us that money was missing from our education fund too.
My father stared at the computer screen.
"How much?"
Aaron hesitated.
"We're still reconciling the accounts."
Dad's voice hardened.
"Give me the amount you've identified."
Aaron took a breath.
"Approximately one hundred and eighty thousand dollars."
Mom covered her mouth.
Jordan stopped moving.
I stared at Dad.
One hundred and eighty thousand.
Money intended for our future.
Gone.
Dad slowly stood.
"How is that possible?"
Aaron turned the laptop toward him.
"The withdrawals were coded as educational program expenses."
Dad frowned.
"What educational programs?"
Aaron opened another file.
"Private tutoring."
"College preparation."
"Academic enrichment."
"Travel-related educational expenses."
I stared at him.
We hadn't attended any expensive academic programs.
Jordan had basketball practice.
I had regular school.
And occasionally, Mom paid for extra math tutoring.
But nothing close to those amounts.
Dad looked toward us.
"Did either of you attend a summer program last year?"
Jordan shook his head.
"No."
I did too.
Aaron nodded grimly.
"That's what I expected."
He showed Dad several invoices.
They carried the name of a company called Bright Future Learning.
Mom frowned.
"I've never heard of it."
Aaron looked at her.
"Neither have I."
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"Who approved the payments?"
Aaron hesitated.
"Denise submitted them."
"And?"
"Some were authorized through your electronic approval system."
Dad stared.
"I didn't approve those."
Aaron nodded.
"That's why we're examining the access logs."
My stomach tightened.
For years, Dad had told us he worked hard so we wouldn't have to worry about money.
Now someone had been taking that money behind his back.
And he'd never noticed.
I looked at him.
He seemed smaller somehow.
Not weak.
Just human.
For the first time, I realized my father didn't know everything.
He could be wrong.
He could be fooled.
And he could hurt people without meaning to.
That realization frightened me.
But it also made me understand him differently.
Dad turned toward Aaron.
"I want an independent forensic review."
Aaron nodded.
"I agree."
"And I want Denise's access suspended immediately."
"I've already recommended that."
Mom stepped forward.
"Marcus, we need to be careful."
He nodded.
"I know."
She looked toward us.
"Jordan, Maya, why don't you go upstairs?"
I hesitated.
"But—"
Mom gently touched my shoulder.
"We'll explain what we can when we know more."
I looked at Dad.
He nodded.
"Go ahead, sweetheart."
I followed Jordan upstairs.
For several minutes, neither of us spoke.
Then he stopped outside my bedroom.
"Maya?"
I turned.
"What?"
He looked uncomfortable.
"Can I come in?"
I nodded.
He sat on the edge of my bed.
I sat at my desk.
For a while, he stared at the floor.
Then he whispered, "I owe you an apology."
I frowned.
"For what?"
He looked up.
"The store."
I swallowed.
He continued.
"I kept arguing about the PS5 while you were trying to explain about Grandma."
I looked down.
He rubbed his hands together.
"I didn't even notice your shoes."
My chest tightened.
"It's okay."
He shook his head.
"No."
I looked at him.
He continued.
"I've been getting extra money from Mom."
I froze.
"What?"
He nodded.
"Whenever I ran out."
I stared at him.
"How much?"
He looked embarrassed.
"Sometimes fifty dollars. Sometimes a hundred."
I swallowed.
"And Dad didn't know?"
Jordan shook his head.
"No."
I stared at my hands.
For months, I'd been carefully saving every dollar.
While Jordan had been receiving extra money whenever he wanted it.
I didn't know whether to feel angry or hurt.
Maybe both.
Jordan continued.
"I thought that's just what allowances were for."
I looked at him.
He swallowed.
"But you were helping Grandma."
I shrugged.
"I didn't want anyone making a big deal."
He shook his head.
"You should've told me."
I laughed bitterly.
"Would you have helped?"
He went silent.
That answered my question.
I looked away.
Then Jordan whispered, "I would now."
I turned back.
He looked sincere.
"I want to."
My throat tightened.
I wanted to believe him.
But I also knew people often promised things when they felt guilty.
Promises were easy.
Actions were harder.
So I nodded.
"Okay."
He looked relieved.
Then he reached into his backpack.
And removed a small envelope.
I frowned.
"What's that?"
He placed it on my desk.
"Money."
I stared at him.
"Jordan—"
"It's what I have left from my allowance."
I shook my head.
"Keep it."
He pushed it closer.
"I want Grandma to have it."
My eyes filled.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I whispered, "Thank you."
He smiled sadly.
"You're welcome."
That afternoon, Dad called us downstairs.
He stood in the living room beside Mom.
His expression was serious.
"Family meeting."
Jordan and I sat on the couch.
Dad took a breath.
"I owe both of you an apology."
I looked at him.
He continued.
"Yesterday, I made a decision without listening."
He looked toward Jordan.
"Son, I still believe you need to learn how to manage money."
Jordan nodded.
"But I was wrong to shame you in public."
Jordan looked surprised.
Dad turned toward me.
"And Maya, I was especially unfair to you."
My throat tightened.
He swallowed.
"You were using your allowance thoughtfully, and I treated you as though you were irresponsible."
I looked down.
Dad continued.
"That's not the lesson I wanted to teach."
Mom smiled gently.
Dad sat across from us.
"So we're starting over."
Jordan frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means we're going to talk about money as a family."
I stared at him.
He continued.
"Your allowances will continue."
Jordan's eyes widened.
"Really?"
Dad nodded.
"But we'll build a plan together."
He looked at me.
"Saving. Spending. Giving."
I smiled slightly.
Then he added, "And no more surprise punishments."
Mom nodded.
"Good."
Dad looked toward Jordan.
"However, the PS5 is still not being purchased automatically."
Jordan groaned.
"Dad..."
Marcus smiled.
"You want it? Let's make a realistic savings plan."
Jordan considered that.
Then nodded.
"Okay."
Dad turned toward me.
"And Maya, you don't have to get a job at fourteen."
Relief flooded through me.
He continued.
"But if you want to explore safe ways to earn money, we'll help you."
I nodded.
"I'd like that."
He smiled.
"Good."
Then Mom spoke.
"There's something else."
We all turned.
She looked at Dad.
"I think we need to talk about how money has been handled in this house."
Dad nodded.
"You're right."
Mom continued.
"For years, Marcus has worked long hours."
She looked toward us.
"And I've managed most of the household spending."
I swallowed.
She sighed.
"But somewhere along the way, we stopped explaining things to each other."
Dad looked down.
Mom continued.
"We gave allowances without really teaching you how budgets work."
She smiled sadly.
"And sometimes I gave Jordan extra money instead of helping him plan."
Jordan looked embarrassed.
Mom reached for his hand.
"That's on me too."
I felt something soften inside me.
For the first time, nobody was pretending adults were always right.
We were all talking honestly.
Then Dad said something unexpected.
"I want both of you to help with a project."
Jordan frowned.
"What project?"
Dad smiled slightly.
"A real family budget."
I laughed.
"That sounds boring."
He grinned.
"Maybe."
Then his expression grew serious.
"But I think we all need to understand where money goes."
I looked at him.
"Even you?"
Dad nodded.
"Especially me."
That evening, he set up a simple spreadsheet on the dining room table.
He showed us household expenses.
Savings goals.
Charitable giving.
And the difference between something we needed and something we wanted.
Jordan asked questions about business.
I asked about saving for college.
Mom explained grocery budgeting.
For the first time, money didn't feel like something mysterious adults used to control us.
It felt like something we could understand.
Then Dad opened a file showing the family support payments.
My stomach tightened.
He looked at me.
"Sweetheart, I want you to see something."
I leaned forward.
The spreadsheet showed thirty-six monthly transfers.
Two thousand dollars each.
All directed toward Williams Family Services.
Dad pointed at the account.
"This is the money I thought Grandma was receiving."
I nodded.
Then he opened another file.
"This is what actually reached her."
The screen was almost empty.
I stopped breathing.
"Nothing?"
Dad shook his head.
"Not through this account."
I stared at the numbers.
My chest tightened.
Then Dad looked at me.
"Maya, do you understand why we're investigating?"
I nodded.
"Because someone took Grandma's money."
He swallowed.
"Yes."
But before he could say more, his phone rang.
It was Aaron.
Dad answered.
His expression changed immediately.
"What?"
He stood.
"Are you sure?"
Mom looked worried.
"Marcus?"
Dad listened.
Then slowly lowered the phone.
He stared at us.
"Denise didn't act alone."
My stomach dropped.
Jordan sat forward.
"Who helped her?"
Dad looked toward Mom.
May you like
His face was white.
"A member of our family."
