Chapter 5
Grandma came to Daddy's house three days later.
She walked slowly.
Her left arm was still sore.
But when she saw me, she smiled.
"Maya!"
I ran toward her.
Then stopped.
I remembered her injury.
"Can I hug you?"
Her eyes filled.
"Of course, sweetheart."
I hugged her carefully around the waist.
She kissed the top of my head.
"My brave girl."
I shook my head.
"I was scared."
Grandma smiled gently.
"Brave people get scared too."
Daddy stood behind us.
He was smiling.
But I could tell he was worried.
He'd been making phone calls for days.
Talking with lawyers.
Police officers.
And people who worked with Grandma's bank.
I didn't understand most of it.
But I understood one thing.
Derek had been doing something wrong.
Something involving Grandma's house.
After lunch, Grandma sat with Daddy at the dining table.
I was coloring nearby.
They didn't ask me to leave.
But Daddy spoke carefully.
He knew I was listening.
Grandma opened a folder.
It was yellow.
My heart jumped.
"That's it!"
Both of them turned toward me.
Daddy frowned.
"What?"
"The folder!"
I pointed.
"That's the one Derek had."
Grandma stared at it.
Then looked at Daddy.
Her face went pale.
"Maya, are you sure?"
I nodded.
"It has a little tear on the corner."
Daddy picked it up.
He looked at the corner.
There was a small tear.
Exactly where I'd remembered.
Grandma covered her mouth.
"Oh, my God."
I felt frightened.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Daddy immediately shook his head.
"No, princess."
Grandma reached for my hand.
"You helped us understand something."
I felt a little better.
Daddy opened the folder.
Inside were papers about Grandma's house.
I couldn't read all the words.
But I recognized her name.
Evelyn Carter.
Then I saw Derek's name.
Derek Williams.
I looked at Daddy.
"Why is his name there?"
Daddy took a breath.
"That's what we're trying to understand."
Grandma looked down.
"Derek told me the papers were for insurance."
Daddy frowned.
"Mom, did you sign anything?"
She nodded slowly.
My stomach tightened.
Grandma looked ashamed.
"He said Angela had already approved it."
Daddy's expression changed.
"Angela?"
That was my mom.
Grandma nodded.
"He said the house needed new insurance because of storm damage."
Daddy looked at the pages.
Then shook his head.
"These aren't ordinary insurance forms."
I watched Grandma's hands tremble.
She whispered, "He told me I had to sign."
Daddy took her hand.
"We're going to get legal help reviewing everything."
I looked toward the window.
I didn't understand how someone could use papers to hurt another person.
But I could see Grandma was frightened again.
I hated that.
I hated seeing her afraid.
A few minutes later, Daddy called a lawyer.
Her name was Patricia Greene.
She'd helped him with a business matter years earlier.
Daddy explained the situation.
Then asked whether she could meet with us.
She agreed.
That afternoon, Mom arrived.
When I saw her, I ran toward the door.
"Mommy!"
She hugged me tightly.
"Oh, baby."
I pressed my face against her shoulder.
She smelled like the lavender lotion she always used after work.
For a moment, I forgot everything.
Then I remembered Derek.
I pulled back.
"Is he with you?"
Mom shook her head.
"No, sweetheart."
I exhaled.
She knelt.
"I came alone."
I hugged her again.
Then whispered, "I missed you."
Her voice broke.
"I missed you too."
We sat on the sofa.
Mom held my hand.
She looked tired.
There were dark circles beneath her eyes.
I wondered whether she'd been sleeping.
Then she said something that surprised me.
"Maya, I owe you an apology."
I frowned.
"Why?"
Her eyes filled.
"Because there were times you tried to tell me Derek frightened you."
My stomach tightened.
I looked down.
Mom continued.
"And I didn't listen the way I should have."
I stared at her.
She began crying.
"I thought he was just strict."
I swallowed.
"Sometimes he was nice."
Mom nodded.
"I know."
I looked at her.
"That made it confusing."
Her expression changed.
She squeezed my hand.
"Yes."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then I whispered, "Do you believe me now?"
Mom started crying harder.
"Yes, baby."
My chest felt strange.
Like something heavy had finally moved.
She pulled me into her arms.
"I'm so sorry."
I hugged her.
I wanted everything to be okay.
I wanted Mom to live with us at Daddy's house.
I wanted Grandma to stop hurting.
I wanted Derek to disappear.
But I knew life didn't work that way.
Mom wiped her eyes.
Then looked toward Daddy.
"Marcus, I need to tell you something."
His expression became serious.
"What?"
She took a breath.
"Derek has been asking me to refinance Mom's house."
Grandma froze.
"What?"
Mom looked ashamed.
"He said we could use the money to start a business."
Daddy stared at her.
"What business?"
Mom shook her head.
"He kept changing the plan."
I felt sick.
I remembered Derek talking about money.
Always money.
He complained about bills.
Said Grandma had too much house.
Said Mom worked too hard.
And once, when he thought I was asleep, he said Grandma was selfish for keeping her savings.
Mom continued.
"He told me Mom agreed."
Grandma shook her head.
"I never agreed to give him my house."
Mom began crying.
"I know that now."
Daddy looked toward the yellow folder.
Then asked, "Did Derek tell you anything about signing documents?"
Mom nodded.
"He said he could handle the paperwork."
Grandma covered her mouth.
Daddy's jaw tightened.
I watched the adults exchange frightened looks.
Then Mom said something else.
"He told me the bank would release the money next week."
The room became silent.
Daddy stood.
"What bank?"
Mom gave him a name.
He immediately called Patricia again.
I sat beside Grandma.
Her hand was cold.
I squeezed it.
"Grandma?"
She looked at me.
"Yes, baby?"
"Can Derek take your house?"
Her eyes filled.
"I hope not, sweetheart."
I didn't like that answer.
I wanted her to say no.
I wanted her to promise everything would be fine.
But she looked scared.
And I knew grown-ups couldn't always promise things they didn't know.
Then Daddy returned.
His face was serious.
"The lawyer wants us in her office tomorrow."
Mom nodded.
Grandma looked down.
I glanced at the yellow folder.
Then I remembered one more thing.
A phone call I'd heard two weeks earlier.
Derek had been speaking to someone named Robert.
He'd said the old woman was being difficult.
Then he'd laughed.
And he'd said something that made no sense at the time.
"Once the money clears, we won't need to keep pretending."
I looked at Daddy.
My heart began pounding.
"Daddy?"
He turned.
"Yes?"
I swallowed.
"Derek said he was pretending."
Daddy went still.
"Pretending what?"
I shook my head.
"I don't know."
Then I told him about Robert.
And the phone call.
And the strange sentence.
Daddy's expression changed.
Mom covered her mouth.
Grandma started crying.
I looked at all three of them.
I didn't understand everything.
But I knew the truth was getting closer.
And I was beginning to realize that Derek hadn't simply been a frightening stepfather.
May you like
He'd been trying to take something that belonged to Grandma.
Something our whole family might have lost if I hadn't come home when I did.
