Chapter 5 - The House Beside the Ocean
I couldn't stop thinking about the cottage.
Somewhere in Hawaii, there was a little house my mother had chosen.
A place she wanted me to visit.
A place she had protected for years.
And Vanessa had tried to sell it.
Dad was furious.
Thomas had immediately contacted the property management company.
The sale inquiry had not been accepted.
Vanessa wasn't the legal owner, and she had no authority to transfer the property.
Still, her attempt frightened me.
If Dad hadn't discovered the account, how much more could she have taken?
"Is the house safe?" I asked.
Thomas nodded.
"The title remains secure."
I exhaled.
"And I can still go?"
"Absolutely."
Dad turned toward me.
"Actually, Maya, I think we should go tomorrow."
I stared at him.
"Tomorrow?"
He smiled.
"Our flights are already booked."
I felt something warm rise inside my chest.
For the first time, Hawaii felt real.
Not like a dream I had to keep hidden.
Like something that was finally happening.
We spent the afternoon shopping.
Dad took me to stores I had only ever walked past.
He told me to choose what I liked.
At first, I didn't know how.
I kept checking price tags.
I kept putting things back.
Whenever Dad asked whether I wanted something, I said it was too expensive.
Finally, he stopped beside me in the clothing section.
"Maya."
I looked up.
"Yes?"
"You're allowed to choose things for yourself."
I swallowed.
"I know."
He shook his head gently.
"No, sweetheart. I don't think you do."
My eyes filled.
He picked up a simple blue summer dress.
"Do you like this?"
I nodded.
"Then let's get it."
I smiled nervously.
"What if Vanessa gets angry?"
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Dad's face changed.
He placed the dress in my hands.
"Vanessa has no authority over your happiness."
I stared at him.
He continued.
"You don't have to ask her permission anymore."
I held the dress against my chest.
Something inside me loosened.
Just a little.
That evening, we returned home.
Vanessa was waiting in the foyer.
Jordan and Nia sat nearby.
All three looked miserable.
The suitcases were still lined up against the wall.
Vanessa stared at my shopping bags.
"Well. Someone had a successful afternoon."
I lowered my eyes automatically.
Dad noticed.
He stepped beside me.
"Maya bought clothes for our trip."
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"So you're really going?"
"Yes."
She laughed bitterly.
"And what about my children?"
Dad looked at Jordan and Nia.
"They're welcome to spend the week with their aunt if you'd prefer."
Nia began crying.
"This isn't fair!"
I almost said sorry.
But Dad spoke first.
"What's unfair is planning a family vacation that deliberately leaves out one child."
Jordan folded his arms.
"Mom said Maya didn't want to come."
I looked at him.
"What?"
He stared at me.
"She said you hated flying."
I blinked.
"I've never even been on a plane."
Nia looked at Vanessa.
"Mom?"
Vanessa waved dismissively.
"I was trying to avoid an argument."
Jordan frowned.
"You told us Maya refused the trip."
My stomach tightened.
Vanessa had lied to everyone.
Not just Dad.
She had created a story where I was the difficult one.
Again.
Dad looked at her.
"Let's discuss the bank account."
The room went silent.
Vanessa's expression changed.
"What bank account?"
"The account Maya's mother established."
Her face went pale.
Dad continued.
"Thomas has reviewed the withdrawals."
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"Marcus, don't tell me you're questioning household expenses now."
"Two hundred and forty thousand dollars isn't an ordinary household expense."
Jordan sat upright.
"What?"
Nia covered her mouth.
Vanessa stepped closer.
"Those funds supported this family."
Dad shook his head.
"They were intended for Maya."
"She's part of the family!"
"Then why was she the only one who didn't benefit?"
Vanessa froze.
I watched her face.
For the first time, she seemed unable to invent an answer quickly enough.
Dad continued.
"And why did you contact the manager of Elizabeth's beach property?"
Vanessa's eyes widened.
I felt my heart pounding.
"You tried to sell it," Dad said.
She shook her head.
"I was only asking questions."
"About property you don't own?"
She crossed her arms.
"I thought selling it might help our finances."
Dad stared at her.
"Our finances?"
His voice became cold.
"Or yours?"
Vanessa looked toward her children.
"Marcus, please. Not in front of them."
Dad nodded.
"You're right. They shouldn't have to witness another argument."
He turned toward me.
"Maya, would you go upstairs?"
I hesitated.
For years, being sent upstairs meant my side of the story would disappear.
Dad seemed to understand.
"This conversation isn't about deciding anything for you. It's about holding Vanessa accountable."
I nodded.
Then I looked at Jordan and Nia.
They were no longer smiling.
Jordan looked confused.
Nia seemed frightened.
For the first time, I wondered how much of Vanessa's behavior they truly understood.
I walked upstairs.
But halfway down the hall, I heard footsteps.
Nia.
She stopped behind me.
"Maya?"
I turned.
Her eyes were red.
"Can I ask you something?"
I nodded cautiously.
She swallowed.
"Did Mom really take your money?"
I looked at her.
"That's what the records show."
Nia covered her mouth.
"She said your dad bought all our things."
I felt a painful twist in my chest.
"I thought so too."
Nia looked down.
"I'm sorry about Hawaii."
I didn't know what to say.
She continued.
"I thought you didn't want to come."
I remembered her laughing beside the suitcases.
I remembered the way she looked away when I started crying.
But now she seemed genuinely ashamed.
"Why didn't you ask me?" I whispered.
She began crying.
"I should have."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she looked up.
"Mom has been acting strange lately."
My stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?"
"She's been making phone calls at night."
I frowned.
"To who?"
Nia shook her head.
"I don't know."
She glanced toward the stairs.
"But yesterday I heard her talking about a house in Hawaii."
My heart stopped.
"What did she say?"
Nia swallowed.
"She said if Marcus discovered the account, everything would fall apart."
My hands went cold.
"And then?"
Nia looked terrified.
"She said she still had one thing he didn't know about."
I stared at her.
"What thing?"
Nia shook her head.
"I don't know."
Then she whispered something worse.
"She said once you and Dad got on the plane, she would have seven days to finish it."
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Vanessa had wanted me left behind.
May you like
Now she wanted us gone.
And I had no idea what she planned to do while we were away.
