Chapter 7
I thought grown-ups stopped lying when they got caught.
I was wrong.
Uncle Daniel kept saying Daddy had agreed to things he never agreed to.
Claire kept sending messages.
Sometimes she sounded sorry.
Sometimes she sounded angry.
Sometimes she told Daddy he was destroying their family.
But Daddy didn't let her make me feel guilty anymore.
He showed the messages to his lawyer.
Then he put his phone away.
He didn't shout.
He didn't throw anything.
He simply kept taking care of me.
I noticed that.
One afternoon, we were making chocolate chip cookies.
Daddy accidentally dropped flour onto the floor.
I laughed.
"You made a mess!"
He grinned.
"An enormous mess."
I grabbed a towel.
Then he said, "Wait."
I froze.
For a second, I thought he was upset.
But he smiled.
"First, let's finish the cookies."
I giggled.
"Then we clean?"
He nodded.
"Then we clean."
We laughed together.
And for a moment, I forgot about Claire.
About Uncle Daniel.
About all the papers and arguments.
I was just a girl baking cookies with her daddy.
That evening, Aunt Renee came over.
She brought a small envelope.
Daddy opened it.
His expression changed.
Then he looked at me.
"Maya, we have some good news."
My heart jumped.
"What?"
"The bank has confirmed that the disputed transfer from Grandpa's trust was stopped before the money left the protected account."
I stared.
"So Uncle Daniel didn't get it?"
Daddy smiled.
"Not that transfer."
I clapped my hands.
Then hugged him.
"That's good!"
He nodded.
"Very good."
Aunt Renee smiled.
"But there's still more work to do."
I sighed.
I was tired of more work.
I wanted everything to be finished.
But Daddy reminded me that protecting people sometimes takes patience.
I nodded.
"Okay."
The next week, something unexpected happened.
Claire asked to meet with Daddy's lawyer.
She said she wanted to explain her part in the financial problems.
Daddy didn't know whether to believe her.
Neither did Aunt Renee.
I didn't trust her at all.
But the lawyer arranged a meeting.
I stayed home with Aunt Renee.
When Daddy returned, he looked surprised.
I ran toward him.
"What happened?"
He knelt beside me.
"Claire gave some important information."
I stared.
"About Uncle Daniel?"
He nodded.
"Yes."
Aunt Renee joined us.
Daddy explained that Claire had admitted helping Daniel access trust information.
She claimed Daniel promised to repay everything.
She also said she believed the money would help provide for Noah.
I frowned.
"But Noah's just a baby."
Daddy nodded.
"I know."
I looked at him.
"He doesn't need all that money."
Daddy smiled sadly.
"No, sweetheart. What he needs most is safe, loving care."
I thought about that.
Then asked, "Does Claire love Noah?"
Daddy looked surprised.
After a moment, he answered carefully.
"I believe she does."
I nodded.
"Then why did she do bad things?"
Daddy sighed.
"People can love someone and still make harmful choices."
I looked down.
I didn't like that answer.
But I knew it was true.
The next day, Daddy told me Claire had agreed to cooperate with investigators.
She provided messages.
Bank information.
And documents connected to Daniel.
Some of the records showed how they planned to obtain money through false approvals.
Others showed that Daniel had told Claire to keep the paternity secret until after the financial arrangements were completed.
Daddy looked hurt when he explained that.
I held his hand.
"I'm sorry."
He smiled sadly.
"Thank you, princess."
Then I asked, "Will Claire go to jail?"
He shook his head.
"I don't know. The courts will decide what happens."
I nodded.
"What about Noah?"
Daddy took a breath.
"His safety and care will be considered separately."
I looked toward my yellow teddy bear sitting on the sofa.
The one I had bought for him.
I still wanted to give it to him.
I still wanted to see him grow.
But I didn't know whether that would ever happen.
A few days later, Aunt Renee took me to the park.
We sat beside a pond.
I watched ducks swim across the water.
Then she asked, "What are you thinking about?"
I shrugged.
"Noah."
She nodded.
"I thought so."
I looked at her.
"Do you think he'll remember me?"
She smiled sadly.
"He's very little."
I looked down.
"So probably not."
She took my hand.
"But that doesn't mean your love for him isn't real."
My eyes filled.
I nodded.
Then I whispered, "I don't want him to think nobody wanted him."
Aunt Renee hugged me.
"Oh, Maya."
I cried against her shoulder.
She held me until I stopped.
Then she said something I remembered for a long time.
"Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is make sure a child is safe, even when we don't get to make every decision."
I thought about that.
Maybe loving Noah didn't mean keeping him.
Maybe it meant wanting him to be happy.
Even if his family looked different from mine.
That evening, Daddy received another call.
He listened carefully.
Then smiled for the first time all week.
When he ended the call, I ran toward him.
"What?"
He knelt.
"Sweetheart, there's been progress in the legal case."
I clapped my hands.
"Really?"
He nodded.
"The investigators have enough evidence to move forward with formal proceedings concerning the disputed financial transactions."
I smiled.
"Does that mean Uncle Daniel has to tell the truth?"
Daddy took a breath.
"It means the evidence will be examined and the people involved will be held accountable if wrongdoing is proved."
I nodded.
I was learning that justice wasn't always fast.
But it mattered.
Then Daddy said something unexpected.
"There's one more thing."
I looked up.
"What?"
He smiled gently.
"Claire's sister Vanessa contacted my lawyer."
I frowned.
"Why?"
"She's been helping care for Noah."
My heart jumped.
"Is he okay?"
Daddy nodded.
"He's healthy."
I smiled.
Then he added, "She asked whether you'd like to send him a letter or a small gift."
I covered my mouth.
"Really?"
Daddy smiled.
"Really."
I ran toward the sofa.
Grabbed the yellow teddy bear.
May you like
Then held it against my chest.
Because after everything, I finally had a chance to give Noah the present I'd bought before he was born.
