Chapter 1: The Money That Wasn't His
"Maya, don't make me repeat myself. That money belongs to this family.""
Marcus's voice carried across the driveway.
Tasha stared at him, clutching the bank notice so tightly that its edges curled beneath her fingers.
I looked down at the paper again.
Forty-nine thousand eight hundred dollars.
A payment to the Toyota dealership.
A withdrawal from an account established by Tasha's biological mother, who had died when Tasha was twelve.
And the account holder's name was unmistakable.
*Tasha Renee Williams.*
I looked at my stepfather.
"Did you take her money?""
Marcus glanced toward the neighbors.
"Watch your mouth.""
"That's not an answer.""
My mother rushed toward us, her heels clicking against the pavement.
"Give me that paper, Tasha.""
Tasha instinctively pulled it against her chest.
"No.""
My mother stopped.
It was the first time I'd heard Tasha say that word to her without immediately apologizing.
Nia's expression changed.
"Excuse me?""
"I said no.""
Marcus took a step forward.
"Don't turn this into something it isn't.""
I held out my hand.
"Tasha, let me see.""
She hesitated before handing me the notice.
The paper was dated six days earlier. Beneath the transaction amount was a description indicating that the funds had been transferred directly to a dealership.
There was also a reference number and the last four digits of the account.
I remembered Tasha telling me about that trust.
Not all the details, but enough.
Her mother, Elena, had worked as a registered nurse. Before she died, she'd arranged for a financial account to be held for Tasha's future education and living expenses.
Tasha had once told me that her mother wanted her to have choices.
She wanted her daughter to attend college without worrying about rent, tuition, or whether she could afford groceries.
That money wasn't supposed to be touched casually.
"Marcus," I said slowly, "why is Tasha's trust paying for my car?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Your mother and I discussed it.""
I turned toward Mom.
"You knew?""
Nia crossed her arms.
"Your stepfather handles the financial matters in this house.""
"That's not what I asked.""
"Lower your voice.""
I looked at Tasha.
She was trembling.
"How long have you known?"" I whispered.
She shook her head.
"I didn't know until yesterday.""
"Yesterday?""
"I received an alert from the bank. I thought it was a mistake. I called them, and they told me a large withdrawal had been authorized.""
Marcus interrupted.
"Because I am the trustee.""
Tasha looked up.
"You're not.""
The driveway went silent.
Marcus's face tightened.
"What did you say?""
"You're not my trustee anymore.""
He gave a short, humorless laugh.
"Don't start repeating things you don't understand.""
Tasha reached into her purse and pulled out another document.
It was folded into quarters, with several official-looking stamps along the bottom.
"I contacted the attorney who handled Mom's estate.""
My mother suddenly looked uncomfortable.
Marcus stared at the document.
"What attorney?""
"Mr. Reynolds.""
"That man has no business involving himself in our family.""
Tasha swallowed.
"He told me something yesterday.""
"What?""
"He said the trust was transferred to an independent financial administrator when I turned eighteen.""
I looked at her.
"Then how could Marcus withdraw the money?""
She didn't answer.
Instead, she turned the paper over.
There was a handwritten note on the back.
My eyes caught the words immediately.
Emergency authorization pending verification.
"What's that?"" I asked.
Tasha's voice broke.
"I don't know. The bank said someone submitted paperwork claiming the withdrawal was for an approved family expense.""
Marcus stepped forward.
"That's enough.""
He reached for the papers.
Tasha backed away.
"Don't touch me.""
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then my mother did something I will never forget.
She turned toward the neighbors, forced a smile, and said, "I'm sorry about this. Tasha has been under a lot of stress lately.""
I stared at her.
"Are you serious?""
"Maya, please. We can discuss this privately.""
"You spent the morning telling everyone how generous you were because you bought me a car with money you took from Tasha!""
A woman standing near the mailbox lowered her phone.
Another neighbor looked toward Marcus.
His embarrassment was turning into anger.
"Get in the house," he ordered.
Neither of us moved.
He pointed at Tasha.
"Now.""
She shook her head.
"I want my money back.""
Marcus laughed.
"You don't understand how much your father has sacrificed to keep this household running.""
"You're not my father.""
The words came out quietly.
But they hit harder than shouting.
Marcus's jaw flexed.
"I raised you.""
Tasha's eyes filled.
"You raised Maya differently.""
My mother stepped between them.
"That's enough! You two are making your sister's birthday miserable.""
I almost laughed.
My birthday.
The birthday that had apparently been financed with someone else's future.
I turned toward the Highlander.
The giant red bow fluttered in the afternoon breeze.
The neighbors' decorations suddenly looked ridiculous.
I remembered how excited I'd been when I first saw the vehicle.
I'd imagined my friends climbing into the back seats. I'd pictured taking Tasha to college visits and driving us both to get ice cream after late classes.
Now every inch of that shiny black SUV felt contaminated.
"Take it back," I said.
Marcus stared at me.
"What?""
"Return the car.""
"That vehicle is yours.""
"No. It's not.""
"Your mother and I bought it for you.""
"With Tasha's money!""
He pointed at me.
"You are not going to stand there and disrespect me.""
I stepped closer.
"Then give her the money back.""
My mother grabbed my wrist.
"Maya, think about what you're doing. Do you realize how embarrassing this is?""
I pulled free.
"Do you realize what you did?""
She lowered her voice.
"We have bills. We have responsibilities. Marcus has been supporting both of you.""
"Then why did Tasha have to work at a grocery store to pay for college applications?""
"Because she wanted to be independent.""
"She wanted eight hundred dollars for her college deposit!""
Nia looked away.
That silence told me more than any explanation could.
Tasha wiped her cheeks.
"I don't want to fight.""
Marcus pointed toward the front door.
"Then stop fighting. Come inside, and we'll handle this like a family.""
Tasha looked at him.
"Families don't steal from each other.""
He went completely still.
For several seconds, the only sound was the birthday music still playing from the porch speakers.
Then a black sedan pulled up behind the neighbors' parked cars.
An older man stepped out, carrying a leather briefcase.
Tasha's eyes widened.
"Mr. Reynolds?""
He walked directly toward us.
"Good afternoon, Tasha.""
Marcus's expression changed.
"What are you doing here?""
The attorney ignored him.
He looked at the bank notice in my hand.
"Did you receive the transaction alert?""
Tasha nodded.
"Yes.""
"Good. I need to ask you something before we go any further.""
He opened his briefcase and removed a thick folder.
Then he looked directly at Marcus.
"Mr. Johnson, did you tell this young woman that her mother's trust was being used to purchase her stepsister's birthday vehicle?""
Marcus didn't answer.
Mr. Reynolds nodded slowly.
"That's what I thought.""
He turned to Tasha.
"There's something else you need to know. The withdrawal isn't the only questionable transaction.""
Tasha's face went pale.
"What do you mean?""
The attorney placed a second document on top of the folder.
"Your mother's trust has been losing money for nearly two years.""
May you like
He paused.
"And I believe I know exactly where it went.""
