“Well, yes, as a matter of fact, Idohave something to tell you.” He could almost hear her smile. “Bella had a bank account with all of her savings, and she added you as a joint account holder before her passing last year. That account is now under your name. Since you haven’t used it at all, I began to worry you may not be aware of it.”
The discovery of the bank account was overshadowed by the discovery of his grandmother's very recent passing. While he had been suffering at the hands of the Mitchells, she had still been alive somewhere. He wanted to feel angry, but he only felt loss.
“I wasn’t aware of it,” he said. “Is there a lot... I mean, how much money is there in the account?” It felt rude to ask, even though it was technically his money.
“Well, your grandma was never wealthy, and she was sick for many years, which wasn’t cheap, but she took care of things before her passing and even sold her little house.”
He remembered that house, although only in fragments. He had his own bed there, in a small room with a yellow wall. From the window, he could see the small backyard with the orange tree at the center.
Susan cleared her throat. “Your bank account has a bit over one hundred thousand dollars.”
The room began to spin, although Daniel was sitting still, clutching the phone hard enough to hurt his palm. “Are... are you sure?”
“I see the figure right on my screen, dear. How about you pop over to our little branch to sign some forms and make it a bit more official? I’d love to tell you all about how wonderful your grandmother was. I also knew your beautiful mother, but only briefly.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn’t mess up this crucial conversation by crying like a child, but this was so much to digest.
“Susan, I think I need your help.”
She must have caught something in his voice by the way she somberly said, “I’m listening, Daniel. What is it?”
He took a deep breath and told her.
*
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Daniel, happy birthday to you!”
He leaned forward and blew out the candles on his chocolate cake.
“Did you make a wish?” Andy asked, eyeing the cake with glee.
“I did.”
Kim leaned down and kissed his cheek, her rosy perfume overwhelming. “I’m sure it will come true.”
“He doesn’t need to wish for anything—I’m right here,” Trevor said with a wink.
“Happy birthday, son.” Robert patted his shoulder.
Daniel pushed his chair back and stood, making them look at him in surprise. “Robert, in your office.”
He walked out of the dining room, knowing Robert would follow. Once inside the office, he sat in his familiar study chair. He must have spent hundreds of hours on that uncomfortable thing, filling his brain with information he would likely never need.
Footsteps came from behind, then the door closed. Robert sat behind his desk and rested his hands on it.
“Daniel, turning eighteen doesn’t give you the right to forget how to act in this house.”
He wished to feel stronger and braver, but Robert had a way of sucking up all the power in the room. “I’m leaving,” he said, his throat tight but his words clear.
Robert didn’t look surprised. He leaned back in his chair. “You want to leave?”
“No. Iamleaving. Right now. I already packed my things.”
“First, you don’t have things—Ihave things. Second, where will you go?”
“This is my business.”
“You are my business, son.”
