Chapter 2: The Refund
Dad printed the refund receipt.
He didn't say a word while the printer hummed.
Vanessa stood near the window with her arms folded, staring outside as though the whole thing were beneath her.
I stayed beside Dad's desk.
“Dad,” I whispered, “who is that account?””
He looked at me.
“I don't know.””
Vanessa finally spoke.
“It was probably a processing account.””
Dad turned toward her.
“An airline doesn't send a passenger refund to a random bank account.””
“You don't know that.””
“Yes, I do.””
His voice was calm.
That scared me more than yelling would have.
He held up the paper.
“The ticket was purchased with my card.””
Vanessa shrugged.
“I handled the cancellation.””
“And redirected the refund.””
“I didn't redirect anything.””
Dad placed the paper on the desk.
“Then explain it.””
She stared at him.
“I can't explain something I didn't do.””
I looked between them.
“Can we just get another ticket?””
Neither of them answered.
I tried again.
“Dad, I don't care about the money. I just want to go with you.””
His expression softened.
“I know.””
“You promised me.””
“I know, sweetheart.””
Vanessa scoffed.
“You're making this bigger than it is.””
Dad looked at her.
“You told my daughter she couldn't come because we couldn't afford her ticket.””
“I said we had to make adjustments.””
“But the ticket was already paid for.””
She didn't respond.
“And now the refund is sitting in someone else's account.””
Still nothing.
Dad picked up his phone.
“I'm calling the bank.””
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“Marcus, don't.””
He stopped.
“Why not?””
“Because this is embarrassing.””
“For you?””
Her eyes flashed.
“For all of us.””
Dad dialed anyway.
While he waited, I noticed something on Vanessa's phone lying on the desk.
A notification appeared.
*Transfer complete.*
I stared at it.
Vanessa snatched the phone before I could read more.
“What?””
“Nothing.””
“You just got a message.””
“It's private.””
Dad ended his call.
“What happened?””
Vanessa slipped the phone into her pocket.
“Nothing happened.””
Dad looked at me.
“Maya?””
I hesitated.
“I saw a message on Vanessa's phone.””
Vanessa snapped.
“She was snooping.””
“I wasn't.””
“You were staring at my screen.””
Dad raised his hand.
“Both of you, stop.””
Then his phone rang.
He answered.
“Hello?””
I watched his face change.
“What?””
He stood up straighter.
“Yes, that was my daughter's ticket.””
A pause.
“No, I did not authorize a third-party refund account.””
Another pause.
His eyes moved toward Vanessa.
“Can you tell me where the money went?””
Silence.
Then Dad's face went rigid.
“Six thousand four hundred dollars?””
My stomach dropped.
Vanessa looked away.
Dad thanked the person and hung up.
“What was that?”” I asked.
He didn't answer immediately.
“The refund wasn't just for your ticket.””
“What do you mean?””
“The airline processed several refunds together.””
He looked at Vanessa.
“Your sons' tickets too.””
Tyler and Brandon suddenly appeared at the doorway.
“Wait,” Tyler said.
“What?””
Dad turned.
“Go upstairs.””
“But why are our tickets canceled?””
Vanessa stepped between them.
“Go upstairs.””
Tyler looked confused.
“You said we were going to Miami.””
Dad's voice hardened.
“Nobody is going anywhere until I understand what's happening.””
Brandon's face fell.
“But Mom—”
“Upstairs.””
They left.
Vanessa closed the office door.
“You're humiliating me.””
Dad stared at her.
“You redirected over six thousand dollars.””
“I was going to put it back.””
“When?””
“When I could.””
“Where did it go?””
She didn't answer.
Dad took one step closer.
“Vanessa.””
She finally whispered, “I needed it.””
“For what?””
She looked at me.
Then away.
“Bills.””
“What bills?””
“Our bills.””
Dad shook his head.
“You've had access to the household account for months.””
“I wasn't stealing.””
“I didn't say you were.””
“But that's what you're thinking.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“I need you to tell me the truth.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
I watched her carefully.
For the first time, I realized something.
She wasn't scared because Dad had discovered the money.
She was scared because he was getting close to something else.
Dad noticed it too.
“What aren't you telling me?””
“Nothing.””
“Maya,” he said quietly, “go upstairs.””
I didn't move.
“Dad—”
“Please.””
I left the room.
But I didn't go far.
I sat on the stairs where they couldn't see me.
Their voices drifted through the office door.
“You canceled all three tickets,” Dad said.
“I told you why.””
“No. You didn't.””
“Marcus, please.””
“Who is Daniel Reeves?””
My heart stopped.
I had never heard that name before.
Neither had Dad.
At least, not until that moment.
Vanessa's voice dropped to a whisper.
“He's not supposed to be involved.””
“Involved in what?””
Silence.
Then Dad said something that made the blood drain from my face.
“Why does his name appear on a custody document for Maya?””
I covered my mouth.
Custody?
For me?
I heard Vanessa begin to cry.
Dad's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Where did you get this document?””
“I didn't.””
“Then why is your signature on it?””
A long silence followed.
Then Vanessa said six words.
May you like
And I knew our family would never be the same.
“Because Maya was never meant to know.””
