Chapter 3: The Missing Money
I didn't tell Dad about the attempted login that night.
Not immediately.
I had learned that information was only useful if you knew when to reveal it.
Instead, I checked every account on my phone, changed my passwords, and transferred the video to another private folder. Then I took screenshots of the login alert and emailed them to myself.
At dinner, Rachel behaved useful if you knew when to reveal it.
Instead, I checked every account on my phone, changed my passwords, and transferred the video to another private folder. Then I took screenshots of the login alert and emailed them to myself.
At dinner, Rachel behaved as though the morning had never happened.
She served roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. She asked Dad about work. She reminded Tyler about soccer practice on Saturday.
When I reached for the water pitcher, she moved it out of my way.
“Tyler can get that,” she said.
“I can get my own water.””
as though the morning had never happened.
She served roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. She asked Dad about work. She reminded Tyler about soccer practice on Saturday.
When I reached for the water pitcher, she moved it out of my way.
“Tyler can get that,” she said.
“I can get my own water.””
“Of course you can. You can do everything yourself, apparently.””
Dad looked up from his plate.
“Rachel, please.””
She turned toward him with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
“What? I'm not allowed to speak in my own house now?””
“That's not what I said.””
“No, Daniel. You just let Emma accuse us of“Of course you can. You can do everything yourself, apparently.””
Dad looked up from his plate.
“Rachel, please.””
She turned toward him with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
“What? I'm not allowed to speak in my own house now?””
“That's not what I said.””
“No, Daniel. You just let Emma accuse us of terrible things, then act as though we're supposed to thank her for it.””
I put down my fork.
“You admitted Tyler broke the TV.””
“I admitted nothing.””
“Mom terrible things, then act as though we're supposed to thank her for it.””
I put down my fork.
“You admitted Tyler broke the TV.””
“I admitted nothing.””
“Mom,” Tyler murmured, his eyes fixed on his plate.
It was the first time that evening he had sounded genuinely nervous.
Rachel shot him a warning look.
Dad noticed.
“Ty,” Tyler murmured, his eyes fixed on his plate.
It was the first time that evening he had sounded genuinely nervous.
Rachel shot him a warning look.
Dad noticed.
“Tyler, what is going on?””
“Nothing.””
“Then answer me. Why did you blame Emma?””
Tyler shifted in his chair.
“I told you. I panicked.””
“And why did you tell her she should ask me about money?””
The room went quiet.
Rachel's hand tightened around her fork.
I looked between them.
“Dad, what money?””
He hesitated.
“It's not something you need to worry about.””
My stomach tightened.
“Tyler said it like I was supposed to knowler, what is going on?””
“Nothing.””
“Then answer me. Why did you blame Emma?””
Tyler shifted in his chair.
“I told you. I panicked.””
“And why did you tell her she should ask me about money?””
The room went quiet.
Rachel's hand tightened around her fork.
I looked between them.
“Dad, what money?””
He hesitated.
“It's not something you need to worry about.””
My stomach tightened.
“Tyler said it like I was supposed to know.””
“Tyler says a lot of things,” Rachel replied.
Dad gave her a sharp look.
Then he turned back to me.
“We'll talk about it later.””
I hated those words.
Later.
Later meant after Rachel had explained what I was allowed to hear.
Later meant when.””
“Tyler says a lot of things,” Rachel replied.
Dad gave her a sharp look.
Then he turned back to me.
“We'll talk about it later.””
I hated those words.
Later.
Later meant after Rachel had explained what I was allowed to hear.
Later meant when Dad had convinced himself that asking questions would upset everyone.
Later meant I would eventually stop asking.
But I had no intention of stopping.
After dinner, I helped Dad clear the table. Rachel took Tyler upstairs to help him pack his soccer bag, leaving Dad alone at the sink.
“Can I ask you something?”” I said Dad had convinced himself that asking questions would upset everyone.
Later meant I would eventually stop asking.
But I had no intention of stopping.
After dinner, I helped Dad clear the table. Rachel took Tyler upstairs to help him pack his soccer bag, leaving Dad alone at the sink.
“Can I ask you something?”” I said.
“Sure.””
“What did Tyler mean about the money?””
Dad stopped rinsing a plate.
He looked at the kitchen doorway before answering.
“It's an issue with the household budget.””
“Then why did he say I should ask you?””
“Because he likes making you angry.””
“Is my.
“Sure.””
“What did Tyler mean about the money?””
Dad stopped rinsing a plate.
He looked at the kitchen doorway before answering.
“It's an issue with the household budget.””
“Then why did he say I should ask you?””
“Because he likes making you angry.””
“Is my money involved?””
Dad's hands went still.
That was all the answer I needed.
“Dad?””
He turned off the faucet.
“Emma, when your mother died, she left some money for your education. You know that.””
I nodded slowly.
He had told me about the education account when I was thirteen. He'd money involved?””
Dad's hands went still.
That was all the answer I needed.
“Dad?””
He turned off the faucet.
“Emma, when your mother died, she left some money for your education. You know that.””
I nodded slowly.
He had told me about the education account when I was thirteen. He'd explained that Mom wanted me to have choices when I grew up, and that the money was meant for tuition, books, or other expenses that would help me build my future.
He had promised he wouldn't touch it.
“Is the account okay explained that Mom wanted me to have choices when I grew up, and that the money was meant for tuition, books, or other expenses that would help me build my future.
He had promised he wouldn't touch it.
“Is the account okay?”” I asked.
“Of course.””
“Then why won't you answer me?””
Dad wiped his hands on a towel.
“Because things are complicated. There have been some expenses, and Rachel and I have been trying to manage them.””
“What expenses?””
“Household expenses.””
“From Mom's money?””
He?”” I asked.
“Of course.””
“Then why won't you answer me?””
Dad wiped his hands on a towel.
“Because things are complicated. There have been some expenses, and Rachel and I have been trying to manage them.””
“What expenses?””
“Household expenses.””
“From Mom's money?””
He flinched at the question.
That hurt more than if he had shouted.
“Your mother left that money to help you,” he said.
“I'm still responsible for making sure you have what you need.””
“That's not what flinched at the question.
That hurt more than if he had shouted.
“Your mother left that money to help you,” he said.
“I'm still responsible for making sure you have what you need.””
“That's not what I asked.””
His voice became firmer.
“You're sixteen, Emma. You're not responsible for the family's finances.””
“Then why I asked.””
His voice became firmer.
“You're sixteen, Emma. You're not responsible for the family's finances.””
“Then why does everyone keep making me pay for things I didn't do?””
Dad stared at me.
For a moment, I thought he understood what I'd really asked.
Then he said, “We're not taking your money to pay for the television.””
“I didn't ask about the television.””
He exhaled.
“I'm not doing this tonight.””
He picked up the towel and walked out of the kitchen.
I stayed beside the sink, staring at the dark window above it.
Outside, the garden lights reflected against the glass. Behind does everyone keep making me pay for things I didn't do?””
Dad stared at me.
For a moment, I thought he understood what I'd really asked.
Then he said, “We're not taking your money to pay for the television.””
“I didn't ask about the television.””
He exhaled.
“I'm not doing this tonight.””
He picked up the towel and walked out of the kitchen.
I stayed beside the sink, staring at the dark window above it.
Outside, the garden lights reflected against the glass. Behind me, I heard Rachel and Tyler laughing upstairs.
I had spent years believing that the only thing wrong with our family was that nobody listened to me.
Now I wondered whether they had been keeping something from me all along.
The next morning, I found an envelope on the counter addressed to Dad.
It was from the bank.
I'd seen the me, I heard Rachel and Tyler laughing upstairs.
I had spent years believing that the only thing wrong with our family was that nobody listened to me.
Now I wondered whether they had been keeping something from me all along.
The next morning, I found an envelope on the counter addressed to Dad.
It was from the bank.
I'd seen the bank's logo before, on statements Dad kept in his office. The envelope had been opened, but the papers inside were neatly folded.
I knew I shouldn't look.
But as I reached for my lunch bag, I noticed a figure printed on the first page.
A withdrawal.
Another one beneath it.
And another.
bank's logo before, on statements Dad kept in his office. The envelope had been opened, but the papers inside were neatly folded.
I knew I shouldn't look.
But as I reached for my lunch bag, I noticed a figure printed on the first page.
A withdrawal.
Another one beneath it.
And another.
All from the education account Mom had left me.
I leaned closer.
There were transfers dating back nearly a year. Some were labeled household expenses. Others were labeled school costs, travel, and miscellaneous family support.
One line made my blood run cold.
**T. Carter — RegionalAll from the education account Mom had left me.
I leaned closer.
There were transfers dating back nearly a year. Some were labeled household expenses. Others were labeled school costs, travel, and miscellaneous family support.
One line made my blood run cold.
*T. Carter — Regional Soccer Development Program.*
Tyler's soccer program.
I read the figure beside it twice.
Then I looked at the total.
A substantial amount of the money Mom had left for my education was gone.
I heard footsteps on the stairs and quickly slid the papers back into the envelope.
Rachel appeared in the kitchen wearing a robe and carrying her phone.
She stopped Soccer Development Program.**
Tyler's soccer program.
I read the figure beside it twice.
Then I looked at the total.
A substantial amount of the money Mom had left for my education was gone.
I heard footsteps on the stairs and quickly slid the papers back into the envelope.
Rachel appeared in the kitchen wearing a robe and carrying her phone.
She stopped when she saw me.
“What are you doing?””
“Getting my lunch.””
Her eyes moved to the envelope.
“Did you touch that?””
“No.””
She walked over, picked it up, and tucked it beneath a stack of magazines.
“Your father handles those things.””
“What's the soccer program when she saw me.
“What are you doing?””
“Getting my lunch.””
Her eyes moved to the envelope.
“Did you touch that?””
“No.””
She walked over, picked it up, and tucked it beneath a stack of magazines.
“Your father handles those things.””
“What's the soccer program doing on my education account?””
For a fraction of a second, Rachel's face went blank.
Then she laughed.
“Excuse me?””
“I saw the statement.””
“You were reading your doing on my education account?””
For a fraction of a second, Rachel's face went blank.
Then she laughed.
“Excuse me?””
“I saw the statement.””
“You were reading your father's private mail?””
“It was open on the counter.””
“That doesn't make it yours to read.””
“It's my account.””
“Your father manages that money. You don't get to interfere because you're upset about a television.””
“I wasn't even talking about the television!””
Her phone buzzed.
father's private mail?””
“It was open on the counter.””
“That doesn't make it yours to read.””
“It's my account.””
“Your father manages that money. You don't get to interfere because you're upset about a television.””
“I wasn't even talking about the television!””
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen and turned it facedown.
“Emma, there are matters adults handle. You need to stop treating every conversation as an attack on you.””
“Then explain the transfers.””
Her smile vanished.
“Go to school.””
“Rachel—”
“Now.””
I stood there, staring at her.
She walkedShe glanced at the screen and turned it facedown.
“Emma, there are matters adults handle. You need to stop treating every conversation as an attack on you.””
“Then explain the transfers.””
Her smile vanished.
“Go to school.””
“Rachel—”
“Now.””
I stood there, staring at her.
She walked past me toward the living room, already dialing a number.
As I grabbed my bag and headed for the door, I heard her speak.
“No, she doesn't know the full amount.””
I stopped.
Rachel lowered her voice.
“Daniel says she'll never need it all past me toward the living room, already dialing a number.
As I grabbed my bag and headed for the door, I heard her speak.
“No, she doesn't know the full amount.””
I stopped.
Rachel lowered her voice.
“Daniel says she'll never need it all at once. We have time to fix this before she turns eighteen.””
My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag.
Then she said the words that made the room seem to tilt around me.
“The problem is that now she has started asking questions.””
I slipped outside before she could turn around at once. We have time to fix this before she turns eighteen.””
My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag.
Then she said the words that made the room seem to tilt around me.
“The problem is that now she has started asking questions.””
I slipped outside before she could turn around.
I didn't go straight to school.
I sat on the front steps, opened my contacts, and found the number of Mom's younger sister, Aunt Laura.
She had helped Dad organize Mom's belongings after the funeral. She'd also been the person who told me, over and over, that if I ever needed to understand anything.
I didn't go straight to school.
I sat on the front steps, opened my contacts, and found the number of Mom's younger sister, Aunt Laura.
She had helped Dad organize Mom's belongings after the funeral. She'd also been the person who told me, over and over, that if I ever needed to understand anything about my mother's affairs, I could always ask her.
I had not spoken to her about the education account in almost three years.
I typed a message.
Aunt Laura, I need to ask you something about the money Mom left for college. Did you help Dad set it up?
Her reply came almost immediately.
*Yes about my mother's affairs, I could always ask her.
I had not spoken to her about the education account in almost three years.
I typed a message.
Aunt Laura, I need to ask you something about the money Mom left for college. Did you help Dad set it up?
Her reply came almost immediately.
Yes, sweetheart. Why?
I stared at the screen, unsure how to explain what I had seen.
Then another message appeared.
Emma, is everything all right?
I swallowed hard and typed the truth.
I think some of it is missing.
The three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Finally, Aunt Laura sent a message that, sweetheart. Why?*
I stared at the screen, unsure how to explain what I had seen.
Then another message appeared.
Emma, is everything all right?
I swallowed hard and typed the truth.
I think some of it is missing.
The three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Finally, Aunt Laura sent a message that made my hands go cold.
Don't accuse anyone until you've seen the original paperwork. I'm coming to see you tonight. And Emma? Whatever you do, don't sign anything your father or Rachel gives you.
I read her message three times.
Then I looked back at the house.
Through the kitchen window, I could see Rachel standing made my hands go cold.
Don't accuse anyone until you've seen the original paperwork. I'm coming to see you tonight. And Emma? Whatever you do, don't sign anything your father or Rachel gives you.
I read her message three times.
Then I looked back at the house.
Through the kitchen window, I could see Rachel standing beside the counter, holding the bank envelope against her chest.
She wasn't looking at the paperwork.
She was looking straight at the front steps.
Straight at me.
And for the first time, I wondered whether she had known I would eventually discover the missing money.
Or whether the broken television had been part of a plan to stop me from discovering it sooner.
## Chapter beside the counter, holding the bank envelope against her chest.
She wasn't looking at the paperwork.
She was looking straight at the front steps.
Straight at me.
May you like
And for the first time, I wondered whether she had known I would eventually discover the missing money.
Or whether the broken television had been part of a plan to stop me from discovering it sooner.
