Chapter 5: The House My Mother Left Me
"V.C. Luxury Holdings," Daddy repeated.
Robert nodded.
"The company purchased Emily's inherited property through a private transaction. The sale price was significantly below the independent valuation.""
Daddy stared at the paperwork.
"How significantly?""
"Approximately six hundred thousand dollars below market value.""
Vanessa began shaking her head.
"I didn't arrange that sale.""
Robert turned another page.
"Your name appears on the company's incorporation documents, Mrs. Carter.""
"I was only a nominee director!""
"Who instructed you to act in that capacity?""
She opened her mouth, but no answer came.
Daddy pushed his chair away from the table.
"Robert, I want every document examined. Every account. Every transaction. I want to know exactly what happened to my wife's property and my daughter's money.""
"Of course.""
Vanessa grabbed her handbag.
"This is absurd. I'm leaving.""
"Where are you going?"" Daddy asked.
"Somewhere I can be treated with respect.""
"Then take your belongings and go somewhere else. You won't stay here tonight.""
She stared at him.
"You wouldn't survive a week without me. Who manages your household? Who takes care of your children?""
Daddy glanced at Madison and Chloe, who were standing near the hallway.
"Apparently, not the person I thought I married.""
Vanessa's face twisted.
She pointed at me.
"This is all because of her! If she hadn't opened her mouth about those shoes, none of this would be happening.""
Daddy moved so quickly that Vanessa took a step backward.
"Every word you say makes your position worse. Stop blaming a child for the consequences of your own decisions.""
For once, Vanessa had nothing to say.
Robert suggested that Daddy take me to another room while he discussed the legal documents with him. Before we left, he crouched in front of me.
"Lily, your mother loved you very much. Everything she arranged was intended to protect your future.""
I touched the photograph of my mother resting inside the box.
"Did she know Vanessa would be mean to me?""
Robert's expression grew sad.
"No, sweetheart. But she knew that one day, you might need someone to stand up for your rights.""
He handed me a small envelope that had been tucked inside the folder.
"Your mother wrote this specifically for you.""
My fingers trembled as I opened it.
The paper smelled faintly of old perfume.
My darling Lily,
If you're reading this, you are probably old enough to understand that money cannot replace the people we love. But I wanted to make sure that you would always have choices, even when life becomes difficult.
Never believe that you must become smaller to make someone else comfortable.
Never believe that asking for what you need makes you selfish.
And never let anyone convince you that your worth depends on what they are willing to give you.
You are loved beyond measure.
Love, Mommy.
I pressed the letter to my chest.
For the first time since the slap, I cried without trying to hide it.
Daddy knelt beside me.
"She knew," I whispered.
"She knew what, sweetheart?""
"She knew I might need help.""
His eyes shone.
"Yes. She made sure you would have help.""
He wrapped his arms around me, and I clung to him.
For two years, I had been afraid to ask for anything. I had worn clothes that pinched and shoes that hurt because I believed my needs were a burden.
Now I understood something I hadn't known before.
My mother had never forgotten me.
She had planned for me.
An hour later, Robert left after arranging an emergency meeting with another attorney for Monday morning. Daddy locked the financial documents in his home office and called a trusted family friend to help arrange somewhere for Vanessa to stay.
Vanessa packed furiously upstairs.
Drawers slammed. Hangers scraped against the closet rod. Once, she threw a perfume bottle into her suitcase so hard that the glass cracked.
Madison and Chloe sat beside me in the kitchen.
Neither girl spoke for a long time.
Finally, Madison looked at my feet.
"Does your cheek still hurt?""
"A little.""
She lowered her eyes.
"I'm sorry I laughed.""
I didn't know what to say.
Chloe wiped her nose with her sleeve.
"I laughed, too.""
"You don't have to say you're sorry," I murmured, although I wasn't sure I meant it yet.
Madison shook her head.
"We do. Mom told us you were trying to steal our things whenever you asked for anything. I thought you were just being annoying.""
I looked at the floor.
"I only wanted shoes.""
"I know," she whispered.
For a moment, the three of us sat quietly.
Then Vanessa appeared in the doorway, dragging a suitcase behind her.
"Madison. Chloe. Get your things.""
Madison stood but hesitated.
"Where are we going?""
"To your grandmother's.""
"Is Mom coming back?"" Chloe asked.
Vanessa ignored the question and grabbed both girls' coats.
Daddy came into the kitchen.
"The girls will stay with their grandmother tonight if that's what she agrees to. We will make arrangements for their care tomorrow.""
Vanessa glared at him.
"You've already decided I'm guilty.""
"No. I've decided that Lily needs to be safe while the facts are established.""
She wheeled her suitcase toward the front door.
Before leaving, she turned toward me.
"You think you've won, don't you?""
Daddy stepped forward.
"Leave, Vanessa.""
She slammed the door so hard that the picture frames rattled.
The house became quiet.
Daddy knelt beside me and held up my broken sneaker.
"Tomorrow, we're getting you new shoes.""
I almost smiled.
"Can they be purple?""
He laughed softly through his tears.
"Sweetheart, they can be purple, green, yellow, or covered in dinosaurs. You choose.""
That night, I slept in my father's room because I was afraid to be alone.
For the first time in months, I didn't worry about waking someone by asking for water.
But just before midnight, Daddy's phone rang.
He answered, listened for several seconds, and sat upright.
"You're sure?""
He looked toward me.
"Then don't let that transfer go through.""
His voice dropped.
"How much are we talking about?""
I watched his face turn pale.
When he hung up, he stared at the wall.
"Daddy?"" I whispered.
He turned toward me.
"The bank found another account, sweetheart.""
"What kind of account?""
He swallowed.
May you like
"One that was opened in your name.""
And according to the bank, nearly everything left in your trust was scheduled to disappear by Monday morning.
