The Girl Everyone Ignored

The next morning Hers

The next morning, Dad placed three documents on the kitchen table, Dad placed three documents on the kitchen table.

The first was the original purchase.

The first was the original purchase agreement for our house.

The second was a bank statement showing the funds used for the agreement for our house.

The second was a bank statement showing the funds used for the down payment.

The third was a letter from Elaine, his attorney, explaining that the down payment.

The third was a letter from Elaine, his attorney, explaining that the source of the money was now under investigation.

I stared at the numbers.

They meant source of the money was now under investigation.

I stared at the numbers.

They meant little to me individually, but I recognized the amount from the birthday card little to me individually, but I recognized the amount from the birthday card my mother had made when I was seven.

The same amount she had promised would help me my mother had made when I was seven.

The same amount she had promised would help me go to college.

The same amount Vanessa had told me never existed.

“Does this go to college.

The same amount Vanessa had told me never existed.

“Does this mean the house is mine?”” I asked.

Dad shook his head gently.

“Not mean the house is mine?”” I asked.

Dad shook his head gently.

“Not necessarily, sweetheart. We need to establish exactly how the money was used and what necessarily, sweetheart. We need to establish exactly how the money was used and what the law allows us to recover.””

“Can Vanessa keep living here the law allows us to recover.””

“Can Vanessa keep living here?””

“Not while she's staying with her sister. But the legal questions?””

“Not while she's staying with her sister. But the legal questions will take time to resolve.””

I frowned.

“Why will take time to resolve.””

I frowned.

“Why does everything take so long when someone does something wrong?””

Dad didn't answer does everything take so long when someone does something wrong?””

Dad didn't answer immediately.

Then he pulled out a chair and sat beside me.

“Because we have immediately.

Then he pulled out a chair and sat beside me.

“Because we have to prove what happened, even when we believe we know the truth. That's how to prove what happened, even when we believe we know the truth. That's how we protect innocent people and hold the right person we protect innocent people and hold the right person responsible.””

I considered that.

It wasn't the answer I wanted.

But responsible.””

I considered that.

It wasn't the answer I wanted.

But it was the first answer that made sense.

At ten o'clock, Elaine arrived it was the first answer that made sense.

At ten o'clock, Elaine arrived with a folder containing preliminary findings from the financial investigation.

She spread with a folder containing preliminary findings from the financial investigation.

She spread the papers across the dining table.

“The bank has confirmed that funds from the papers across the dining table.

“The bank has confirmed that funds from Maya's trust entered an account associated with V. Hartwell Consulting,” she Maya's trust entered an account associated with V. Hartwell Consulting,” she said.

“From there, a portion was transferred into the account used for the said.

“From there, a portion was transferred into the account used for the house purchase.””

Dad rubbed his forehead.

“How much?””

“Enough to cover the house purchase.””

Dad rubbed his forehead.

“How much?””

“Enough to cover the original down payment and several closing costs. Investigators are still tracing the original down payment and several closing costs. Investigators are still tracing the remaining funds.””

I stared at the house around us.

The crystal chandelier remaining funds.””

I stared at the house around us.

The crystal chandelier.

The polished floor.

The staircase where I had sat crying.

The polished floor.

The staircase where I had sat crying while Vanessa told me that I had destroyed her family while Vanessa told me that I had destroyed her family.

All of it suddenly looked different.

“Could we lose the.

All of it suddenly looked different.

“Could we lose the house?”” Dad asked.

“It's possible there will be a claim against the house?”” Dad asked.

“It's possible there will be a claim against the property, but I wouldn't make predictions yet. We need to establish property, but I wouldn't make predictions yet. We need to establish ownership interests, trace the funds, and determine whether any other parties had ownership interests, trace the funds, and determine whether any other parties had knowledge of the transfer.””

Elaine turned to me.

“Maya, I want you to understand something knowledge of the transfer.””

Elaine turned to me.

“Maya, I want you to understand something. Whatever happens to this house, none of this is your fault.””

I nodded.

. Whatever happens to this house, none of this is your fault.””

I nodded.

Vanessa had spent years telling me that I cost too much, asked for tooVanessa had spent years telling me that I cost too much, asked for too much, and caused too many problems.

It would take time to stop believing her.

After Elaine much, and caused too many problems.

It would take time to stop believing her.

After Elaine left, Dad drove me to school.

For the first time in months, left, Dad drove me to school.

For the first time in months, I didn't worry about what would happen when I got home.

Vanessa wasn't there to inspect my I didn't worry about what would happen when I got home.

Vanessa wasn't there to inspect my homework, criticize my clothes, or complain that I had taken too homework, criticize my clothes, or complain that I had taken too long in the bathroom.

But halfway through the school day, the office secretary long in the bathroom.

But halfway through the school day, the office secretary called me downstairs.

“Your stepmother is here to see you.””

My called me downstairs.

“Your stepmother is here to see you.””

My stomach dropped.

Vanessa stood beside the reception desk wearing a cream coat and stomach dropped.

Vanessa stood beside the reception desk wearing a cream coat and carrying a shopping bag.

She smiled when she saw me.

“Maya carrying a shopping bag.

She smiled when she saw me.

“Maya, darling.””

I stopped several feet away.

“What are you doing here?””

Her, darling.””

I stopped several feet away.

“What are you doing here?””

Her smile tightened.

“I brought you something.””

She held smile tightened.

“I brought you something.””

She held out the shopping bag.

Inside was a pair of black leather shoes.

Brand-new.

My out the shopping bag.

Inside was a pair of black leather shoes.

Brand-new.

My size.

For one foolish second, I wanted to size.

For one foolish second, I wanted to cry with relief.

I had imagined new shoes so many times cry with relief.

I had imagined new shoes so many times that I could almost feel their soft lining against my feet.

Then that I could almost feel their soft lining against my feet.

Then I remembered Chloe's silver shoes.

The frosting.

The locked drawer.

The forged signature.

I didn't I remembered Chloe's silver shoes.

The frosting.

The locked drawer.

The forged signature.

I didn't take the bag.

“Why?””

Vanessa looked offended.

“Because I know you've take the bag.

“Why?””

Vanessa looked offended.

“Because I know you've been upset. I wanted to do something nice.””

“You could been upset. I wanted to do something nice.””

“You could have bought them before.””

Her expression changed.

“Maya, I'm trying to make things have bought them before.””

Her expression changed.

“Maya, I'm trying to make things right.””

“Then tell the truth.””

She glanced at the secretary, right.””

“Then tell the truth.””

She glanced at the secretary, who was pretending not to listen.

“Can we talk privately?””

“No who was pretending not to listen.

“Can we talk privately?””

“No.””

The answer surprised both of us.

Vanessa lowered her.””

The answer surprised both of us.

Vanessa lowered her voice.

“Your father is filling your head with things you don't understand. You need to voice.

“Your father is filling your head with things you don't understand. You need to be careful about believing everything he says.””

I looked at her be careful about believing everything he says.””

I looked at her.

“He showed me the bank records.””

“Those records don't tell the.

“He showed me the bank records.””

“Those records don't tell the whole story.””

“Then explain them.””

Her mouth tightened.

“Not here whole story.””

“Then explain them.””

Her mouth tightened.

“Not here.””

“You always say that.””

She stared at me.

For.””

“You always say that.””

She stared at me.

For once, I didn't look away.

“You said I once, I didn't look away.

“You said I should be useful,” I continued.

“You said Mommy left should be useful,” I continued.

“You said Mommy left me nothing. You made me clean the floor while everyone watched. And when I me nothing.

You made me clean the floor while everyone watched. And when I asked about my money, you acted like I was stealing from you.””

Vanessa's eyes flashed.

“You un asked about my money, you acted like I was stealing from you.””

Vanessa's eyes flashed.

“You ungrateful little—”

She stopped herself.

The secretary looked up.

I tookgrateful little—”

She stopped herself.

The secretary looked up.

I took a step backward.

“You're doing it again.””

Vanessa's expression hardened.

Then she a step backward.

“You're doing it again.””

Vanessa's expression hardened.

Then she placed the shopping bag on the counter.

“Keep the shoes. You'll placed the shopping bag on the counter.

“Keep the shoes. You'll need them when your father finally realizes what you've done.””

She turned and walked need them when your father finally realizes what you've done.””

She turned and walked out.

I watched her disappear through the glass doors.

The secretary approached me gently.

“Would you like me to call out.

I watched her disappear through the glass doors.

The secretary approached me gently.

“Would you like me to call your father?””

“Yes, please.””

Dad arrived twenty minutes later.

When I your father?””

“Yes, please.””

Dad arrived twenty minutes later.

When I told him what happened, he listened without interrupting.

Then he called Detective Harris.

By the told him what happened, he listened without interrupting.

Then he called Detective Harris.

By the end of the afternoon, Vanessa had been advised not to contact me directly while the end of the afternoon, Vanessa had been advised not to contact me directly while the investigation continued.

I left the shoes at school.

I didn't want anything from her investigation continued.

I left the shoes at school.

I didn't want anything from her that I couldn't trust.

That evening, Chloe called.

I stared at that I couldn't trust.

That evening, Chloe called.

I stared at the screen for several seconds before answering.

“Hello?””

“Maya?””

Her voice sounded small.

the screen for several seconds before answering.

“Hello?””

“Maya?””

Her voice sounded small.

“Hi.””

“Mom says you're trying to make her lose everything.””

I closed my eyes.

“I'm“Hi.””

“Mom says you're trying to make her lose everything.””

I closed my eyes.

“I'm not trying to make her lose anything. I'm trying to find out what happened to my money.””

“But if not trying to make her lose anything. I'm trying to find out what happened to my money.””

“But if the house gets taken away, where will we live?””

“I don't the house gets taken away, where will we live?””

“I don't know, Chloe.””

She was quiet.

Then she asked, “Do you hate me, know, Chloe.””

She was quiet.

Then she asked, “Do you hate me, too?””

The question hurt.

“No.””

“Even though I was mean too?””

The question hurt.

“No.””

“Even though I was mean to you?””

“I don't know what I feel yet.””

She sniffed to you?””

“I don't know what I feel yet.””

She sniffed.

“Mom says you made me do it.””

I sat on the edge of my bed.

“Mom says you made me do it.””

I sat on the edge of my bed.

“Did I?””

“No,” she whispered.

“Then.

“Did I?””

“No,” she whispered.

“Then why does she say that?””

“Because she's angry.””

I looked at the folded letter why does she say that?””

“Because she's angry.””

I looked at the folded letter on my nightstand.

“Being angry doesn't make something true.””

Chloe was silent on my nightstand.

“Being angry doesn't make something true.””

Chloe was silent for a long time.

Then she said, “I found something in her office.””

My heart began for a long time.

Then she said, “I found something in her office.””

My heart began to race.

“What?””

“A little black notebook. Mom told to race.

“What?””

“A little black notebook. Mom told me never to touch it. But yesterday, she left it in her bag, and me never to touch it. But yesterday, she left it in her bag, and I saw my name on one of the pages.””

“What did it say?””

“I I saw my name on one of the pages.””

“What did it say?””

“I don't know. There were numbers and dates. And your name.””

I sat up don't know. There were numbers and dates. And your name.””

I sat up straighter.

“Where is the notebook now?””

“Mom has straighter.

“Where is the notebook now?””

“Mom has it.””

“Can you tell Daddy?””

Chloe began to cry.

“I'm it.””

“Can you tell Daddy?””

Chloe began to cry.

“I'm scared of her.””

I didn't know what to say.

For years, I had wished Chloe scared of her.””

I didn't know what to say.

For years, I had wished Chloe would stand up for me. I had imagined her telling Vanessa would stand up for me. I had imagined her telling Vanessa that she was wrong, refusing to laugh at my embarrassment, that she was wrong, refusing to laugh at my embarrassment, or simply sitting beside me when everyone else ignored me.

Now I understood that Chloe had been living under her or simply sitting beside me when everyone else ignored me.

Now I understood that Chloe had been living under her mother's rules, too.

That didn't excuse what she had done.

mother's rules, too.

That didn't excuse what she had done.

But it helped me understand why she was frightened.

“You don't have to confront her alone,” I saidBut it helped me understand why she was frightened.

“You don't have to confront her alone,” I said.

“Tell your dad. Or tell Aunt Patricia. Someone who can.

“Tell your dad. Or tell Aunt Patricia. Someone who can help you.””

“Will you be mad if I help you.””

“Will you be mad if I tell?””

“No.””

“Promise?””

“I promise.””

The call ended shortly afterward tell?””

“No.””

“Promise?””

“I promise.””

The call ended shortly afterward.

I told Dad what Chloe had said.

He contacted Patricia, who agreed to.

I told Dad what Chloe had said.

He contacted Patricia, who agreed to make sure Chloe was safe and to let Elaine know make sure Chloe was safe and to let Elaine know if the notebook was found.

The following morning, Detective Harris called.

The if the notebook was found.

The following morning, Detective Harris called.

The black notebook had been recovered from Vanessa's belongings with Patricia's black notebook had been recovered from Vanessa's belongings with Patricia's cooperation.

It contained handwritten notes about the trust transfer, cooperation.

It contained handwritten notes about the trust transfer, the house purchase, and several conversations Vanessa had apparently planned to have the house purchase, and several conversations Vanessa had apparently planned to have with the bank.

But one entry stood out.

*April 9 — Rebecca has the with the bank.

But one entry stood out.

*April 9 — Rebecca has the originals. She says she'll go to Evelyn tomorrow. Need to stop her from originals.

She says she'll go to Evelyn tomorrow. Need to stop her from making this public.*

April 9.

The making this public.*

April 9.

The night my mother died.

Detective Harris cautioned that the entry did not night my mother died.

Detective Harris cautioned that the entry did not establish what happened on the road. It did, however, give investigators a reason to establish what happened on the road. It did, however, give investigators a reason to examine the timeline more closely.

Dad sat silently after the examine the timeline more closely.

Dad sat silently after the call.

I stood beside him.

“Does this mean Vanessa hurt call.

I stood beside him.

“Does this mean Vanessa hurt Mommy?””

He shook his head.

“We still don't know.””

“Then Mommy?””

He shook his head.

“We still don't know.””

“Then what does it mean?””

“It means your mother what does it mean?””

“It means your mother was trying to expose the financial wrongdoing, and Vanessa knew about it.””

I looked at the notebook.

“ was trying to expose the financial wrongdoing, and Vanessa knew about it.””

I looked at the notebook.

“Why would she write that down?””

“People sometimes keep recordsWhy would she write that down?””

“People sometimes keep records because they think those records protect them. Sometimes they forget that the same because they think those records protect them. Sometimes they forget that the same records can reveal what they were trying to hide.””

Dad closed the folder.

records can reveal what they were trying to hide.””

Dad closed the folder.

That afternoon, he received another call from Elaine.

She hadThat afternoon, he received another call from Elaine.

She had found the insurance file connected to my mother's death.

The policy had been active for several found the insurance file connected to my mother's death.

The policy had been active for several years, and its beneficiary information had been changed shortly before the accident.

years, and its beneficiary information had been changed shortly before the accident.

The original beneficiary was my father.

The amended form named a trust connected toThe original beneficiary was my father.

The amended form named a trust connected to Vanessa's consulting company.

The change had never been properly authorized.

Dad stared Vanessa's consulting company.

The change had never been properly authorized.

Dad stared at the document.

“Did Rebecca know about this?””

Elaine's answer at the document.

“Did Rebecca know about this?””

Elaine's answer was careful.

“We can't be was careful.

“We can't be certain. But the date of the change suggests she may have discovered it during her certain. But the date of the change suggests she may have discovered it during her investigation.””

I looked at the page.

The signature beneath the amendment rese investigation.””

I looked at the page.

The signature beneath the amendment resembled my mother's.

But I had seen enough forged paperworkmbled my mother's.

But I had seen enough forged paperwork to understand that a familiar signature didn't necessarily mean a person had written it.

to understand that a familiar signature didn't necessarily mean a person had written it.

Dad looked at me.

“Maya, I need you to stay with Daniel for aDad looked at me.

“Maya, I need you to stay with Daniel for a few days while I work with Elaine and the police.””

My stomach few days while I work with Elaine and the police.””

My stomach tightened.

“Are you sending me away?””

“No. Never.”” He took my hands.

“I'm making sure tightened.

“Are you sending me away?””

“No. Never.”” He took my hands.

“I'm making sure you have somewhere safe and quiet to stay while the adults deal with this.””

I hesitated you have somewhere safe and quiet to stay while the adults deal with this.””

I hesitated.

“Will you come get me?””

“Every day if you want me to.””

“Will you come get me?””

“Every day if you want me to.””

I thought about it.

Then I nodded.

“Okay.””

Daniel arrived that evening thought about it.

Then I nodded.

“Okay.””

Daniel arrived that evening to take me to his house.

Before I left, I returned to my mother's bedroom and to take me to his house.

Before I left, I returned to my mother's bedroom and placed her two letters inside my schoolbag.

I didn't want to leave them behind.

placed her two letters inside my schoolbag.

I didn't want to leave them behind.

Dad helped me zip the bag.

Then he crouched in frontDad helped me zip the bag.

Then he crouched in front of me.

“I wish I had seen what was happening sooner.””

of me.

“I wish I had seen what was happening sooner.””

I looked at him.

“So do I.””

He nodded,I looked at him.

“So do I.””

He nodded, accepting the answer without defending himself.

“I can't change those years, Maya accepting the answer without defending himself.

“I can't change those years, Maya. But I can make sure the truth is heard now.””

I hugged him.

This time. But I can make sure the truth is heard now.””

I hugged him.

This time, when he promised to protect me, I didn't ask him to promise that nothing, when he promised to protect me, I didn't ask him to promise that nothing bad would happen.

I asked him to promise that he would never hide the truth from me again bad would happen.

I asked him to promise that he would never hide the truth from me again.

He agreed.

And as Daniel drove me away from the house,.

He agreed.

And as Daniel drove me away from the house, I watched its windows grow smaller in the distance.