Chapter 6
The next morning, I sat in Danielle Brooks's office staring at a bank statement.
My name was printed across the top.
Maya Williams.
The account had been opened three months earlier.
I recognized the date immediately.
It was the week Raymond brought me the papers he claimed were for college savings.
Danielle pointed toward the transaction history.
"These are the deposits."
I leaned forward.
Several payments had entered the account.
Small amounts at first.
Then larger ones.
The largest deposit was nearly twelve thousand dollars.
I looked at her.
"Where did that money come from?"
She checked the records.
"An education assistance fund connected to a community organization."
My stomach tightened.
"Was that supposed to be for me?"
"According to the documents we've received, yes."
I stared at the page.
I had never heard of the fund.
I had never applied.
I had never received a letter.
Then Danielle pointed toward the withdrawals.
"These transactions require clarification."
I looked closer.
Money had been transferred to another account.
Then another.
The amounts totaled more than nine thousand dollars.
My hands began shaking.
"Where did it go?"
Danielle hesitated.
"The receiving account appears to be associated with Raymond Carter."
I felt sick.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I whispered, "He took money meant for my education?"
Danielle answered carefully.
"The records suggest funds were transferred to an account associated with him. We need to establish authorization and the circumstances."
I nodded.
I understood.
But my heart already felt broken.
Mom sat beside me.
She reached for my hand.
I held it tightly.
Danielle continued.
"We've also asked the community organization to explain how the application was submitted."
I stared at her.
"Because I never applied."
She nodded.
"Exactly."
I looked down.
I remembered Raymond asking for my driver's license.
My Social Security number.
My school information.
He told me he was setting up a savings account.
I wanted to believe him.
Now I wondered whether he'd used my information to obtain money and then move it elsewhere.
I began crying.
Mom wrapped her arm around me.
Danielle handed me a tissue.
"Maya, I know this is painful."
I nodded.
"But we're going to separate what we know from what we still need to prove."
I wiped my eyes.
"Okay."
She continued.
"We can notify the bank of disputed transactions, preserve the records, and report suspected identity misuse to the appropriate authorities."
I took a shaky breath.
"Will I get the money back?"
"I can't promise that yet."
I nodded.
"But we'll pursue the available remedies."
I looked at Mom.
She smiled sadly.
"We'll get through this."
I wanted to believe her.
But the betrayal felt enormous.
Raymond hadn't simply missed my graduation.
He may have used my future as a source of money.
And I had hurt Arthur while defending him.
That afternoon, I received a call from Raymond.
For a moment, I considered ignoring it.
Then I remembered Danielle's advice.
I didn't need to argue.
I could keep communication limited and preserve anything relevant.
I answered.
"Hello."
Raymond sounded irritated.
"Maya, why is some lawyer asking questions about my bank accounts?"
My stomach tightened.
I stayed calm.
"Because there are transactions involving an account opened in my name."
He laughed.
"That was for your college."
I stared at the wall.
"Then why did money go into your account?"
Silence.
I waited.
Raymond cleared his throat.
"I was managing it for you."
I took a breath.
"Did I authorize those withdrawals?"
He became defensive.
"You're my daughter."
"That wasn't my question."
His voice hardened.
"I've been trying to help you."
I felt anger rising.
"Then send Danielle every document showing what you did and why."
He laughed bitterly.
"Now I need permission from your lawyer to help my own child?"
I closed my eyes.
"No."
I spoke slowly.
"You need to stop treating my money and information like they belong to you."
He went silent.
Then he said, "Arthur put you up to this."
My jaw tightened.
"Arthur is recovering in the hospital."
Raymond scoffed.
"Always the hero."
I took a breath.
"Don't."
He continued.
"That man has been turning you against me for years."
I felt something inside me become very still.
"No, Raymond."
He stopped.
I continued.
"You did that yourself."
Silence.
Then he whispered, "You'll regret this."
I ended the call.
My hands trembled.
But I didn't cry.
Not this time.
I forwarded the call details to Danielle.
Then I walked into Arthur's hospital room.
He was sitting upright, reading a newspaper.
When he saw me, he smiled.
"Hey, sweetheart."
I smiled back.
"Hey, Dad."
He folded the paper.
"How'd the meeting go?"
I sat beside him.
"Hard."
He nodded.
"Want to talk?"
I took a breath.
Then I told him everything.
The account.
The deposits.
The withdrawals.
Raymond's reaction.
Arthur listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he looked devastated.
Not angry.
Not triumphant.
Just sad.
"I'm sorry, Maya."
I stared at him.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Because you've been hurt."
My eyes filled.
I shook my head.
"You didn't do anything."
He reached for my hand.
"That doesn't make it easier to watch."
I leaned forward and hugged him.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then Arthur said something unexpected.
"Sweetheart, I need you to promise me something."
I looked up.
"What?"
"Don't let this make you give up on people."
I frowned.
He continued.
"Raymond made choices that hurt you."
I nodded.
"But there are still good people in the world."
His eyes filled.
"People who will love you without asking what they can get."
I began crying.
He smiled gently.
"And I hope you become one of them."
I laughed through tears.
"I'll try."
He squeezed my hand.
"That's all anyone can do."
Over the following days, Arthur's doctors completed their evaluation.
They identified a heart condition that required medication, lifestyle changes, and close specialist follow-up.
The doctors explained his treatment plan.
They also stressed the importance of rest and avoiding unnecessary strain.
I listened carefully.
So did Mom.
Arthur looked unhappy when the doctor mentioned reducing his workload.
"But I have responsibilities," he said.
Mom folded her arms.
"So do we."
Arthur smiled weakly.
I leaned forward.
"Dad, you're not working yourself into another hospital bed."
He laughed.
"Yes, ma'am."
I smiled.
But beneath the laughter, I felt determined.
Arthur had spent years carrying financial responsibility for our family.
Now it was time for us to carry some of it with him.
I began applying for additional scholarships.
Mrs. Thompson helped me prepare essays and gather recommendations.
I contacted Briarwood's financial aid office to explain the suspected interference with my previous application.
The staff reviewed my situation and outlined options.
Emergency grant funding.
Payment plans.
Work-study eligibility.
Additional departmental scholarships.
I applied for everything appropriate.
I also began searching for part-time summer work.
Not because Arthur demanded it.
Because I wanted to contribute.
Then one afternoon, Mrs. Thompson called.
"Maya, are you sitting down?"
I laughed nervously.
"Should I be?"
"Probably."
I sat on my bed.
"What happened?"
"The community scholarship foundation reviewed your case."
My heart began pounding.
"And?"
"They confirmed that your application was improperly withdrawn."
I covered my mouth.
"Really?"
"Yes."
I felt tears rising.
She continued.
"They're considering whether they can reopen your application under their exceptional circumstances procedure."
I swallowed.
"Does that mean I might still get the scholarship?"
"It means you have another opportunity to be considered."
I smiled through tears.
"Thank you."
She laughed softly.
"You did the hard work, Maya."
I nodded.
Then she added something unexpected.
"There's one more thing."
My stomach tightened.
"What?"
"The foundation's review identified a contact address linked to the withdrawal message."
I held my breath.
"Whose address?"
She hesitated.
"That information is being reviewed by the appropriate parties."
I nodded.
Then she continued.
"But the foundation believes the request did not come from you."
I covered my face.
For the first time, someone outside my family recognized that something had gone wrong.
I wasn't imagining it.
I wasn't simply being dramatic.
My educational future had been affected by someone else's actions.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from Danielle.
"Maya, please call me when you're available. We've received additional records concerning Raymond's account."
I stared at the screen.
My heart pounded.
I had a chance to recover my scholarship.
May you like
But the financial investigation was far from over.
And I was beginning to understand that becoming an adult meant learning to face the truth even when it hurt more than the lies.
