Chapter 3: The Name on the Title
Dad didn't speak for nearly ten seconds.
Then he said, "Send me a copy.""
He ended the call.
Laura was crying silently now.
I stood against the kitchen counter, barely breathing.
Dad looked at her.
"Whose name is on the title?""
Laura shook her head.
"David, please.""
"Whose name?""
"Tyler's.""
Dad laughed once.
It wasn't a happy laugh.
It was the kind of laugh someone makes when the truth is somehow worse than the lie they expected.
"You used Emma's money to buy your son a car.""
"I was going to put it back.""
"You spent every dollar.""
"I didn't have a choice.""
Dad stared at her.
"You always have a choice.""
Laura wiped her cheeks.
"You don't understand what it's like being a mother.""
Dad's face hardened.
"Don't use motherhood to justify stealing from my daughter.""
"I didn't steal!""
"You took money that wasn't yours.""
"I was protecting Tyler!""
"From what?""
"From losing everything!""
The kitchen fell silent.
Dad stepped closer.
"Explain.""
Laura hesitated.
Then she sank into a chair.
"Tyler owes money.""
"How much?""
"About eleven thousand.""
Dad's eyes narrowed.
"To whom?""
"People he shouldn't owe.""
My stomach dropped.
"What kind of people?""
Laura looked at me.
Dad immediately said, "Don't.""
She lowered her eyes.
"I thought if we got him the car, we could sell it later. I figured we'd make the money back.""
Dad stared at her as if she'd become a stranger.
"You spent thirty thousand dollars on a car because you thought you could flip it?""
"Yes.""
"And Emma's medical appointment?""
Laura started crying again.
"I didn't know it was that serious.""
I stepped forward.
"You knew.""
She looked at me.
"You read the doctor's letter.""
Her lips parted.
"You knew I couldn't see the board at school anymore. You knew I was getting headaches. You knew Dad told you the specialist was important.""
Laura's voice dropped.
"I was going to handle it.""
"You handled it by buying Tyler a sports car.""
She looked away.
Dad slammed his palm onto the counter.
"Enough!""
Everyone went silent.
He took a long breath.
Then he looked at me.
"Emma, I'm sorry.""
I shook my head.
"It wasn't your fault.""
"It was my responsibility.""
"Dad—"
"I should've been checking that account.""
He reached for my hand.
I let him take it.
His fingers were trembling.
Then he turned back to Laura.
"I'm calling the bank tomorrow.""
Laura stood.
"David, please don't do this.""
"I'm also calling the dealership.""
Her eyes widened.
"No.""
"Yes.""
"Tyler will lose the car.""
"That's not my problem.""
"He'll hate me.""
Dad's voice became quiet.
"Emma lost thirty thousand dollars.""
Laura started sobbing.
Dad continued.
"She lost trust in the person who was supposed to protect her.""
He pointed toward the hallway.
"Tomorrow, you will tell Tyler exactly where that money came from.""
Laura shook her head.
"I can't.""
"Then I will.""
She covered her mouth.
Dad's next words came slowly.
"And there will be consequences.""
Laura looked at him through tears.
"What kind?""
Dad looked down at the floor for a moment.
When he finally spoke, his voice was calm.
"You have forty-eight hours to return every dollar to Emma's account.""
Laura stared at him.
"And if I can't?""
Dad didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he walked over to the counter, picked up the dealership receipt, and folded it carefully.
Then he looked directly into his wife's eyes.
"If you can't return it...""
He paused.
"...you won't be living in this house anymore.""
Laura's face crumpled.
But Dad wasn't finished.
He pulled another document from his jacket.
A bank statement.
At the bottom was a transaction neither of us had noticed.
*$8,000 transferred from Emma's account two days earlier.*
May you like
Dad looked at Laura.
"Where did the other eight thousand go?""
