Chapter 4: My Mother Wasn't Telling Me Everything
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I stood beside the dining table, holding a loan application with my forged signature, while my wife stared at my mother as if she had been waiting years for this exact moment.
"Tell him what you did before you start accusing me.""
Vanessa's voice was quieter now.
But there was something different about it.
She wasn't frightened anymore.
She looked almost relieved.
I turned toward my mother.
"Mom, what is she talking about?""
Evelyn slowly lowered herself into her chair.
"Daniel, I think you should sit down.""
"No. I want an answer.""
Vanessa gave a bitter laugh.
"Of course she doesn't want to tell you. She never tells you everything.""
"Vanessa, stop," I warned.
"No, Daniel. Since we're finally discussing secrets, let's discuss all of them.""
My mother placed both hands on the table.
"Your wife came to me last year asking for help.""
I frowned.
"What kind of help?""
"Financial help.""
Vanessa nodded quickly.
"Tell him how much.""
Evelyn looked uncomfortable.
"Ten thousand dollars.""
I stared at her.
"You gave Vanessa ten thousand dollars?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Last September.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"You told me your mother had given you that money.""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Because I knew you'd react exactly like this.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"So the twelve thousand dollars I gave you for the bathroom, the ten thousand Mom gave you, and the money you've been transferring to Marcus... Where did all of it go?""
Vanessa looked toward the stairs.
"Not everything is about money, Daniel.""
"Then explain the forged loan application.""
She folded her arms.
"Your mother told me you would never agree to help me.""
Evelyn shook her head.
"I never said that.""
"You told me Daniel would always put Noah first.""
"Because Noah is his child.""
"And what about Madison?""
Vanessa's voice cracked.
"What about my daughter? Does she not deserve anything?""
For a moment, Madison looked up.
She was standing near the doorway, holding the sleeve of her pink sweater.
"Mom, I don't want a new house.""
Vanessa turned toward her.
"Go upstairs, Madison.""
"But I like this house.""
"Madison!""
The little girl flinched.
I stepped between them.
"Don't shout at her.""
Vanessa threw her hands up.
"Now you're protecting everyone except me!""
I looked at my mother.
"Why did you give her the money?""
Evelyn sighed.
"She told me Madison needed emergency dental treatment. She said you were already struggling with expenses and didn't want to worry you.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Was Madison sick?""
She didn't answer.
"Did she need treatment?""
Vanessa's silence lasted too long.
Evelyn reached into her handbag and pulled out a small receipt.
"She showed me this.""
I examined it.
It was from a dental clinic.
The amount was $640.
Not ten thousand.
I looked up.
"Where's the rest?""
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
"I had other expenses.""
"What expenses?""
"School. Food. Transportation. Things you don't pay attention to.""
I laughed once, without humor.
"You live in a house where you don't pay the mortgage. You drive a car I helped you buy. You use my insurance. And you still think I don't contribute?""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
"You're making me sound like a gold digger.""
"I'm asking where the money went.""
Marcus quietly stepped toward the front door.
I noticed him.
"You're staying.""
He stopped.
"I really don't think I should be involved in this family argument.""
"You entered my house with my wife's permission and brought documents concerning the sale of my property. You're already involved.""
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She gave him a small shake of her head.
Then he said something I wasn't expecting.
"Mr. Carter, I wasn't the first person she approached.""
My mother looked up.
"What?""
Marcus opened his folder again.
"Vanessa originally contacted another broker. He declined because the property ownership records didn't match what she was telling him.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"How many people?""
"Three, as far as I know.""
Vanessa grabbed the table.
"That's enough!""
Marcus continued.
"She told us her husband had authorized the sale but was unavailable to attend meetings.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"Where were you planning to go?""
She pressed her lips together.
Marcus answered before she could.
"She mentioned moving to Arizona.""
I stared.
"Arizona?""
Vanessa finally exploded.
"Because I needed a fresh start!""
"Without telling me?""
"You were never going to understand!""
I looked at the loan application again.
The signature was almost perfect.
Almost.
But I knew my own handwriting.
The capital D had the wrong angle.
I turned the page over.
There was a second sheet attached.
A copy of my driver's license.
I hadn't given Vanessa a copy of that document in years.
Then I remembered.
Last Christmas, she'd asked to organize our household paperwork.
I'd handed her a folder containing our tax documents, identification copies, and property records.
I had trusted her.
I slowly put the application down.
"Who helped you forge my signature?""
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
"Nobody.""
"Then why does this application have my identification?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
My mother suddenly spoke.
"Daniel, there's something else.""
I closed my eyes briefly.
"Mom, please tell me this is the last thing.""
Evelyn looked at Vanessa.
"Last week, I went to the bank to ask about the money she had borrowed from me. That's when I discovered the application wasn't the only document using your name.""
"What?""
She pulled another paper from her handbag.
It was a bank notification.
There was an account number, a date, and a transaction reference.
Evelyn pointed to the final line.
"Someone attempted to withdraw money from the savings account your father left you.""
My blood ran cold.
That account contained the money I'd been saving for Noah's education.
I looked at the date.
Three days earlier.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
She was crying again.
But this time, she wasn't looking at me.
She was staring at my mother.
May you like
And Evelyn said the words that changed everything.
"Daniel, the person who attempted that withdrawal used my name.""
