Chapter 10 - The Ledger
Vanessa sank onto the edge of the bed.
“I didn’t write that.”
“No one said you did,” Jonah replied.
She looked at Diane.
Diane’s face was stone.
“Mom?”
“It was shorthand. You’re all twisting it.”
“For forging Grandma’s signature?” I asked.
Diane snapped, “Stay out of this.”
I surprised myself by laughing.
“I was removed from a family table because you wanted me out of the room before Grandma spoke. I think I’m already in it.”
Ryan walked to the desk.
Under the property papers was a thin spiral notebook.
Vanessa stood quickly. “Don’t touch that.”
Again, too fast.
Ryan looked at her.
“What is it?”
“Wedding notes.”
Maya frowned. “I’ve never seen it.”
Jonah said, “Vanessa can decide whether to hand it over.”
Grandma sat in a chair by the window.
“I’m not asking anymore,” she said. “I’m telling you. If that book contains records involving my money, give it to Jonah.”
Vanessa started to cry.
Not the delicate tears she had used over centerpieces.
These were frightened tears.
“I didn’t think it was stealing.”
Ryan went still.
Diane whispered, “Vanessa, shut up.”
My sister looked at her mother.
“You said Grandma was going to give it to us anyway.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
Grandma’s shoulders dropped.
Vanessa handed Jonah the notebook.
He opened it.
Every page listed dates, amounts, initials, and vendors.
Some numbers matched the wedding.
Others did not.
There were payments to a luxury apartment complex, a jewelry store, and a travel agency.
Aunt Susan, who had followed us upstairs, whispered, “How much?”
Jonah did the math on his phone.
Then he looked at Grandma.
“This goes back almost fourteen months.”
“How much?” she repeated.
“One hundred ninety-three thousand, not including the lake deposit.”
Grandma shut her eyes.
Vanessa was sobbing now.
“I thought Mom was borrowing from the family account.”
Grandma opened her eyes.
“I do not have a family spending account.”
Diane stepped toward the door.
Ryan moved in front of it.
“Where are you going?”
Diane’s voice was icy. “Home.”
Then Dad spoke from behind me.
“No.”
Everyone turned.
Thomas was holding one page torn from the back of the notebook.
May you like
His hands shook.
“Because this number,” he said, “is from my business account.”
