Chapter 5: The Money She Took From Grandma
I couldn't stop staring at the signature.
Gloria Johnson.
It appeared beneath a series of financial transactions dating back six years.
Six years.
I had been sixteen when Grandma died.
My mother had told everyone that Grandma left behind nothing but furniture, old clothes, and a few sentimental belongings.
Apparently, that wasn't true.
"That's not my signature," Gloria said.
Margaret calmly turned the document around.
"Would you like to explain why it matches the authorization forms submitted to our sponsor?""
Gloria folded her arms.
"I handled Eleanor's affairs. Someone had to.""
"Did you have authorization to withdraw money from the trust?""
"Of course I did.""
"Can you provide the document granting you that authority?""
Gloria opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Tessa looked between them.
"Mom, you told me Grandma's recipes weren't worth anything.""
Gloria turned on her.
"Not now!""
"But you said there was no money.""
"Shut up, Tessa!""
The entire hall had gone silent.
I looked at the transaction records.
"How much?""
Margaret glanced down.
"The preliminary accounting shows approximately $186,000 in licensing payments over six years. We haven't confirmed how much was transferred to accounts controlled by your mother.""
My knees weakened.
One hundred and eighty-six thousand dollars.
Grandma's recipes had been earning money while I worked evening shifts at a grocery store to save for baking equipment.
While I repaired my old mixer with borrowed tools.
While I skipped vacations because I couldn't afford them.
And my mother had known all along.
I turned toward her.
"You let me believe Grandma had nothing.""
Gloria rubbed her forehead.
"I was protecting you.""
"From what?""
"From complicated financial matters!""
"You were taking her money!""
"Don't you dare accuse me!""
I pulled the letter from my bag.
"Grandma left this for me. She specifically named me as the owner.""
Gloria's voice became quieter.
"Your grandmother made mistakes.""
"No. She trusted you.""
That sentence seemed to hit her harder than anything else.
For a few seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she walked toward me and lowered her voice.
"Aaliyah, listen. We can work this out privately. You're young. You don't understand how expensive it is to maintain a household.""
I stared at her.
"Is that why you took the money?""
"I had responsibilities.""
"So did I. I had a future to build.""
She glanced toward the audience.
"Please don't embarrass this family.""
I almost laughed.
"You embarrassed me when you pushed me into a refrigerator and stole my cake.""
Her face tightened.
"That cake was going to waste sitting in this house.""
"It was going to a competition!""
"And now look at the situation you've created!""
Tessa suddenly stepped between us.
"Mom, just tell her the truth.""
Gloria glared.
"What truth?""
Tessa wiped her cheeks.
"You said Grandma's trust paid for my baking classes.""
I froze.
"What?""
Tessa looked at me.
"I thought the money came from Grandma's estate. Mom told me she'd set aside money for both of us.""
I shook my head.
"How much?""
Tessa looked down.
"About forty thousand dollars.""
My stomach twisted.
Forty thousand dollars.
That was nearly everything I'd ever dreamed of earning from my baking.
"What did you use it for?""
"Classes. Equipment. A private pastry instructor. Some travel.""
I looked toward the stolen cake.
"And did you know Mom had given you my cake?""
Tessa began crying harder.
"I knew she brought it home. I didn't know she was going to take it from you.""
"You photographed it and submitted it under your name.""
"I thought... I thought it would be okay.""
"You thought stealing my work was okay?""
She covered her face.
I turned away.
I couldn't listen to another excuse.
A man in a charcoal suit approached our group.
He introduced himself as Daniel Brooks, the competition sponsor's legal representative.
"Mrs. Johnson," he said, "we need to preserve these records and arrange a formal review.""
Gloria immediately became defensive.
"Are you threatening me?""
"No. I'm explaining the next steps.""
He turned toward me.
"Miss Johnson, your grandmother's trust documents identify you as the beneficiary. You are entitled to receive a complete accounting.""
I nodded.
"Can I get copies?""
"Absolutely.""
He handed me a sealed folder.
Inside were copies of the trust agreement, licensing statements, and a letter from Grandma's attorney.
I opened the letter.
It contained one additional instruction.
My granddaughter Aaliyah should receive the original recipe collection, all unpaid licensing proceeds, and the opportunity to continue my baking legacy without interference.
I pressed my lips together.
Grandma had thought of everything.
Then Daniel spoke again.
"There's something else. One of the sponsor's affiliated companies received an offer last month to purchase exclusive rights to Eleanor's signature recipes.""
My eyes moved toward Gloria.
"Who made the offer?""
Daniel opened his folder.
"Gloria Johnson.""
I looked at my mother.
"You tried to sell Grandma's recipes?""
Gloria's face hardened.
"I was trying to negotiate a business opportunity.""
"Without telling me?""
"You wouldn't have understood!""
"Because I'm twenty-two?""
"Because you're inexperienced!""
Daniel placed another document on the table.
"The offer included a proposed sale price of $75,000.""
I stared at him.
"And where was that money supposed to go?""
He pointed to the final paragraph.
"The proposed payment account was registered under your mother's name.""
Tessa slowly stepped away from Gloria.
"Mom, you told me the money was going to help us open a bakery.""
Gloria didn't answer.
I looked at my sister.
For once, she wasn't smiling.
She looked frightened.
But before I could say anything, Daniel received a message on his phone.
He read it twice.
Then his expression changed.
"Miss Johnson, I think you should see this.""
He showed me a photograph attached to the message.
It was a copy of a handwritten note from Grandma's attorney.
The note was dated two weeks before her death.
At the bottom was a sentence that made my blood run cold.
If Gloria attempts to transfer the recipes without Aaliyah's consent, immediately notify the beneficiary and suspend all licensing payments.
I looked at Daniel.
"Does that mean she knew?""
He nodded.
"Your grandmother anticipated this possibility.""
Then he added something even more disturbing.
"She also left instructions concerning the person who helped her prepare the trust.""
I leaned closer.
"Who?""
Daniel looked toward the entrance.
"Her attorney. He's here today.""
A gray-haired man had just entered the convention hall.
He was carrying a second leather briefcase.
May you like
And when he saw Gloria, he stopped walking.
"Well," he said quietly, "I see the family finally has a reason to meet.""
