Chapter 2: The Money My Father Never Gave Away
Dad didn't shout.
Somehow, that made everything worse.
He stood in the driveway holding the bank statement, his work boots covered in dust, while Denise stared at the paper as though it might suddenly disappear.
"Marcus, we can talk about this inside," she said.
"No. We can talk about it here.""
"You're embarrassing everyone.""
Dad looked at her.
"You're worried about embarrassment?""
Jordan leaned against the car.
"Can somebody explain what's happening?""
Dad turned toward him.
"How much did you spend on that motorcycle last month?""
Jordan blinked.
"What motorcycle?""
"The one you bought.""
Denise immediately stepped forward.
"That has nothing to do with this.""
Dad raised the statement.
"Then why is there a transfer of eighteen thousand four hundred dollars from Maya's college account into an account ending in 7742?""
I stopped breathing.
Eighteen thousand four hundred dollars.
I knew that number.
I'd seen it on Dad's laptop months earlier when he'd shown me how much we'd saved.
It was supposed to be part of my first-year college expenses.
"That's not possible," I whispered.
Dad looked at me.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart.""
I turned toward Denise.
"Did you take my money?""
She sighed.
"Nobody took anything.""
"Then where is it?""
"It was borrowed.""
"Borrowed by who?""
Denise looked toward Jordan.
He suddenly became very interested in his phone.
Dad noticed.
"Jordan. Look at me.""
Jordan slowly raised his head.
"What?""
"Did your mother transfer money from Maya's account to pay for your motorcycle?""
Jordan's face tightened.
"She said it was family money.""
My stomach dropped.
Dad stared at him.
"Family money?""
"She said you approved it.""
Dad turned toward Denise.
"Did you tell him I approved it?""
She crossed her arms.
"Marcus, you know Jordan has been struggling. He needed a fresh start. He needed something reliable.""
"A motorcycle is reliable transportation?""
"He needed something to help him find work!""
Dad's voice rose.
"Then why didn't you use your own money?""
Denise looked offended.
"Because we're married!""
"And Maya is my daughter!""
The driveway fell silent.
I had never heard Dad say those words so sharply.
He looked down at the statement again.
"That account was opened for her education. You knew that.""
Denise shook her head.
"I thought we agreed everything was shared after marriage.""
"No. We agreed to build a life together. We never agreed to steal from my daughter's future.""
She flinched.
Then her expression changed.
"Steal? That's a disgusting word.""
"Then explain the withdrawal.""
Denise took a breath.
"Jordan needed help. He was depressed after leaving college. He wasn't finding his place. I thought giving him some independence would help.""
I looked at Jordan.
He was nineteen.
He'd quit community college after failing two classes.
He spent most afternoons gaming in his bedroom.
He'd recently purchased designer sneakers, a gaming computer, and a motorcycle.
Meanwhile, I'd worked four evenings a week at a grocery store to pay for my own clothes.
"Did you know?"" I asked him.
Jordan looked at me.
"Know what?""
"That the money came from my account.""
He hesitated.
"Mom said it was money your dad had saved for the family.""
"That's not what I asked.""
He looked away.
That was answer enough.
Dad folded the statement.
"Denise, we're going to the bank tomorrow.""
She laughed.
"You're not serious.""
"Completely.""
"You can't just accuse me of stealing.""
"I'm not accusing you. I'm asking you to explain a transfer you made without my permission.""
She stepped closer.
"Marcus, think carefully. You're going to destroy this marriage over a misunderstanding?""
Dad looked exhausted.
"I didn't destroy anything.""
Then he turned to me.
"Come inside, princess.""
I followed him into the kitchen.
The moment the door closed, I started crying.
Dad set the bank statement on the counter.
"I'm sorry.""
I wiped my face.
"You promised me that money would be there.""
"I know.""
"I worked so hard. I thought I could finally stop worrying about paying for college.""
He pulled out a chair.
"Sit down.""
I did.
Dad crouched beside me.
"Listen carefully. You are going to college. That scholarship is yours. And we're going to find out exactly what happened to every dollar.""
I looked at him.
"Why didn't you notice?""
The question escaped before I could stop it.
Dad lowered his eyes.
"I should have.""
He didn't make excuses.
He didn't tell me he was busy.
He simply looked at me with the kind of regret that made my throat hurt.
"I trusted Denise to help manage the household finances," he said.
"I didn't realize she'd been moving money around.""
I swallowed.
"How much?""
He opened the bank application on his phone.
His fingers moved slowly.
Then he stopped.
His face went pale.
"What?"" I whispered.
He turned the screen toward me.
The college account showed a balance of $2,137.64.
I stared.
"No.""
Dad scrolled through the transactions.
There were multiple withdrawals.
Some were labeled household expenses.
Others were transfers to an account I didn't recognize.
One payment was for a luxury furniture store.
Another was for a resort in Florida.
Then Dad tapped a transaction dated three months earlier.
$6,800.
Recipient: D. Carter.
Denise's maiden name.
Dad sat back.
"That's not Jordan's account.""
I looked at the screen.
"Then whose is it?""
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he opened another page.
There was a recurring monthly transfer.
Four hundred dollars.
For sixteen months.
Dad's jaw tightened.
"She wasn't just helping Jordan.""
He zoomed in on the recipient details.
The account belonged to someone named Leonard Carter.
Denise's older brother.
I remembered him.
He'd visited twice during the previous year, always complaining about money and asking Dad for favors.
"Why was she sending him money?""
Dad shook his head.
"I don't know.""
A noise came from the doorway.
Denise was standing there.
Her face was pale.
"Marcus, please.""
Dad closed the application.
"Who is Leonard?""
She looked at me, then at him.
"He's my brother.""
"I know who he is. Why have you been sending him money from an account meant for Maya?""
Denise's eyes filled with tears.
"He's in trouble.""
"What kind of trouble?""
She didn't answer.
Dad stood.
"Denise, I need the truth.""
She pressed a hand against her chest.
"I was trying to protect my family.""
Dad stared at her.
"From what?""
For several seconds, she said nothing.
May you like
Then she whispered something I wasn't prepared to hear.
"Leonard told me he'd come after Jordan if I stopped paying him.""
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