Chapter 2: The Money Behind the Rules
Nicole recovered quickly.
Too quickly.
She stepped into my bedroom, closed the door, and gave Dad the kind of smile she usually reserved for guests.
“Marcus, this is getting ridiculous. Jordan misunderstood something. He's a little boy.””
Dad held up the handwritten list.
“Then explain this.””
Nicole glanced at it.
“It's a chore chart.””
“Why does it say Maya loses dinner if she tells me about it?””
“She was being disrespectful.””
“She was being hungry!””
His voice echoed through the room.
I flinched.
Dad noticed immediately and lowered his voice.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm not angry with you.””
Nicole rolled her eyes.
“See? This is why she behaves this way. You always rush to defend her. She knows she can manipulate you.””
I stared at the carpet.
That was another one of Nicole's favorite accusations.
If I cried, I was manipulative.
If I stayed quiet, I was disrespectful.
If I asked for food, I was greedy.
There was no correct answer.
Dad placed the paper on my desk.
“Nicole, I want you to tell me exactly what Jordan meant about money.””
She laughed nervously.
“What money?””
“The money you receive for Maya.””
“I don't receive money for Maya.””
Jordan raised his hand.
“Yes, you do.””
Nicole turned sharply.
“Jordan, enough!””
The little boy stepped behind Dad.
“Grandma Linda said she sends money for Maya's food.””
Dad went still.
“What did you just say?””
Jordan continued.
“She said Maya should have enough food because Grandma sends Mommy money every month.””
Nicole's lips parted.
“Jordan, you need to stop talking.””
Dad stared at her.
“Linda sends you money?””
Nicole rubbed her forehead.
“Your mother likes to interfere in everything. She sends occasional gifts. That's all.””
“How much?””
“Marcus, I don't remember.””
“Then check your bank account.””
“Why are you interrogating me?””
“Because I just found a box of stale bread under my daughter's bed!””
Nobody spoke.
Dad took out his phone.
He called his mother.
Grandma Linda answered after two rings.
“Marcus! What a surprise.””
“Mom, I need to ask you something.””
“Of course, sweetheart.””
“Have you been sending Nicole money for Maya?””
There was a brief pause.
“Yes. Every month.””
Dad closed his eyes.
“How much?””
“Five hundred dollars. Sometimes a little more if Maya needs school supplies or clothes. Why?””
Nicole turned toward the window.
Dad's expression became unreadable.
“Mom, what exactly did you tell Nicole the money was for?””
“For Maya, obviously. I told her I wanted my granddaughter to have everything she needed. I know you work long hours, and I thought helping with groceries and school expenses would make things easier.””
Dad looked at Nicole.
“Did you ever tell her that?””
“Of course,” Grandma replied.
“I even wrote it in the transfer notes.””
Dad swallowed.
“Thank you, Mom. I'll call you back.””
He ended the call.
Nicole immediately began speaking.
“Marcus, your mother has no idea how expensive this household is. Five hundred dollars barely covers groceries.””
Dad's voice was cold.
“Then why is Maya saving bread under her bed?””
“Because she refuses to follow rules!””
“Which rules? The ones you wrote threatening to starve her?””
Nicole's expression hardened.
“Don't use that word.””
“Then give me another word for taking food away from a child.””
She looked at me.
“Maya, tell your father the truth. You know I cook every night.””
I stared at her.
My throat tightened.
“Sometimes.””
“Sometimes?”” Nicole repeated.
“You see? This is what I deal with.””
Dad stepped between us.
“Stop questioning her.””
Nicole threw her hands up.
“Fine! I'm the villain. That's what everyone wants to hear.””
She walked out, slamming the bedroom door.
A few seconds later, we heard the front door open and close.
Dad stood motionless.
Then he crouched in front of me.
“Maya, look at me.””
I slowly raised my eyes.
“Have you been hungry like this for a long time?””
I nodded.
“How long?””
“Since before summer.””
His face crumpled.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
I tried to answer, but the words came out as a whisper.
“She said you would send me away.””
Dad blinked.
“What?””
“She said you married her because you wanted a family. If I kept causing problems, you'd decide I wasn't worth the trouble.””
Dad looked as if someone had struck him.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
He pulled me into his arms.
I hadn't realized how badly I needed someone to hold me until that moment.
“I would never send you away,” he whispered.
“Never.””
I started crying.
Not the quiet kind of crying I'd learned to do with my pillow pressed against my face.
This time, I couldn't stop.
Dad held me until my breathing settled.
Then he stood and went downstairs.
He returned with a sandwich, a glass of milk, an apple, and a bowl of soup.
“I don't know what you want first,” he said gently.
“So I brought everything.””
I looked at the food.
It seemed unreal.
“Can I eat all of it?””
Dad's eyes filled with tears.
“Every bite. And if you're still hungry, we'll make more.””
I ate slowly at first.
Then faster.
Jordan sat beside me, watching with a relieved smile.
“See, Maya? I told Daddy.””
I reached over and squeezed his hand.
“You did.””
Dad sat across from us.
His phone buzzed.
A message from Grandma Linda appeared.
**Marcus, is everything okay? I just remembered something. I have copies of every transfer receipt.
Also, Nicole once told me Maya was receiving extra meals at school. I thought that was strange because I was sending money for groceries.**
Dad read it twice.
“Extra meals at school?”” he murmured.
I stopped chewing.
Nicole had told Grandma that I was eating breakfast and lunch at school every day.
But that wasn't the worst part.
Dad opened the banking app and began scrolling through the transfers.
Five hundred dollars.
Five hundred dollars.
Five hundred dollars.
Month after month.
Then he noticed the dates.
One transfer had been made just three days earlier.
*$750 — For Maya's food, clothing, and school needs.*
Dad looked toward the kitchen.
“Where did that money go?””
I didn't know.
But Jordan suddenly spoke.
“Daddy?””
Dad looked up.
“What is it?””
“Mommy bought something yesterday.””
“What did she buy?””
Jordan pointed toward the garage.
“The big pink television. She said it was her reward.””
Dad slowly stood.
The room went quiet again.
Because the television in the garage wasn't the only thing Nicole had purchased.
And when Dad opened the bank statements, he discovered a payment that made him reach for the edge of the table.
A payment to a private storage unit.
May you like
Every month.
For nearly two years.
