Chapter 4: The Second Transfer
Laura stared at the bank statement as if the numbers might rearrange themselves if she looked long enough.
"They're not what you think," she whispered.
Dad held the paper between two fingers.
"Then tell me what they are.""
Laura's eyes filled with tears.
"I needed to pay something.""
"What?""
"I can't tell you.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"You just told me you used Emma's money to buy Tyler a sports car. Now I'm looking at another eight-thousand-dollar transfer, and you're telling me you can't tell me where it went?""
"I was going to put it back.""
"That isn't an answer.""
I stood beside the kitchen table, staring at the statement.
Eight thousand dollars.
Thirty thousand had gone toward the car. Another eight thousand had disappeared before that.
Thirty-eight thousand dollars.
More than a year of my savings.
Dad looked at me.
"Emma, go upstairs.""
"No.""
He blinked.
"I want to know.""
"Emma—"
"I want to know where my money went.""
Laura covered her face.
Dad pulled out a chair.
"Sit down.""
I sat.
He remained standing.
"Laura, start from the beginning.""
She shook her head.
"I can't.""
"Then I'll start asking questions.""
He pointed to the statement.
"Who received the eight thousand?""
Laura whispered, "A company.""
"What company?""
She said nothing.
Dad leaned closer.
"Laura.""
She finally gave him a name.
"Northstar Financial.""
Dad frowned.
"I've never heard of it.""
"You weren't supposed to.""
The room went still.
Dad slowly placed the statement on the table.
"What does that mean?""
Laura's breathing became uneven.
"I borrowed money.""
"From Northstar?""
"No.""
"Then why did you send them eight thousand dollars?""
Laura stared at the floor.
"Because I owed them.""
Dad closed his eyes.
For a moment, I thought he might yell.
Instead, he asked quietly, "How long?""
"Almost a year.""
"How much?""
"Twenty-six thousand.""
My mouth fell open.
Dad looked stunned.
"Twenty-six thousand dollars?""
"I paid some of it.""
"With what?""
Laura didn't answer.
Dad looked at the statement again.
"You've been paying your debts with Emma's savings.""
"No!""
"Then where did the money come from?""
She started crying.
"I used it twice.""
The words barely came out.
"Twice?""
"I borrowed from it before. I thought I'd replace everything before anyone noticed.""
Dad's hands curled into fists.
"When?""
"Last year.""
"How much?""
"Six thousand.""
"And the rest?""
"I paid it back.""
Dad shook his head.
"How?""
Laura's silence answered him.
I felt sick.
"You took more.""
She looked at me.
"Yes.""
"How much?""
"Eight thousand.""
I stood.
"You stole from me twice.""
Laura's face crumpled.
"Emma, I never meant to hurt you.""
"You knew it was mine.""
"I thought I could fix it.""
"You didn't fix anything.""
My voice broke.
"You bought Tyler a car.""
Laura stood too.
"I was trying to protect my family!""
Dad stepped between us.
"Emma is your family.""
Laura looked at him.
"I know.""
"No. You don't.""
Dad picked up the statement.
"You knew my daughter needed medical care. You knew this account was for her future. And you kept taking money because you thought nobody would stop you.""
Laura wiped her cheeks.
"I was scared.""
"Of what?""
"My debts.""
Dad stared at her.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She looked away.
"Because I knew you'd leave.""
The words hit the room like a slap.
Dad went silent.
I watched his face change.
Not anger this time.
Pain.
"You were right," he finally said.
Laura's eyes widened.
"David...""
"If you had told me the truth a year ago, maybe we could have solved it.""
He placed the statement on the table.
"But you didn't.""
Laura reached for his arm.
He stepped back.
"Don't.""
She froze.
Dad looked at me.
"I'm taking you to the doctor tomorrow.""
"But the appointment was canceled.""
"I'll get another one.""
"What about the money?""
"I'll handle it.""
"You don't have thirty-eight thousand dollars.""
"I'll find it.""
I shook my head.
"Dad, that's not fair. You shouldn't have to fix what she did.""
His eyes softened.
"I don't care about fair right now. I care about you.""
Then his phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
It was an email from the dealership.
His eyes moved across the message.
Then stopped.
"What?"" I asked.
He didn't answer.
He turned the phone toward me.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: VEHICLE FINANCING DOCUMENTS — CO-SIGNER REQUIRED*
Dad looked at Laura.
"You didn't pay cash for that car.""
Laura said nothing.
Dad's voice dropped.
"You put the car in Tyler's name...""
May you like
He looked at the paperwork again.
"...but you used our house as collateral.""
