Chapter 5: The Dealer Knew My Stepmother's Secret
The next morning, I searched for Ethan Cole.
I didn't know why I did it. Maybe I wanted proof that the man was real. Maybe I hoped I'd find something that would explain why my stepmother was calling him in secret.
Or maybe I was beginning to understand that Denise had been counting on everyone around her asking fewer questions than they should.
Ethan's name appeared on the dealership's website beneath a photograph of a smiling man in a navy suit.
*Sales Manager. Twelve Years of Automotive Experience.*
His professional profile described him as a family man who believed in honest service and lasting relationships.
I almost laughed.
Then I noticed something else.
A photograph from the dealership's charity golf tournament showed Ethan standing beside a woman in a cream blazer.
Denise.
She was holding a glass of champagne, smiling at the camera with one hand resting on his shoulder.
The photograph was dated eleven months earlier.
I stared at it.
Eleven months.
Around the same time Dad had started working overtime to save for my car.
I saved the photograph to my phone.
Then I went downstairs.
Dad was at the kitchen table, speaking to someone from the bank. When he finished the call, I showed him the picture.
He studied it carefully.
"Where did you find this?""
"On the dealership's website.""
He looked at Denise's face.
"She told me she met Ethan when she arranged the delivery.""
"That picture is almost a year old.""
Dad's expression darkened.
"She said she'd never dealt with that dealership before.""
I sat opposite him.
"Do you think she knew him before you bought my car?""
"I don't know.""
He returned the phone.
"But we're going to ask.""
He called the dealership and requested a meeting with Ethan.
The receptionist offered him an appointment for the following afternoon.
Dad insisted on speaking with the sales manager that morning.
After several minutes on hold, Ethan finally came to the phone.
Dad introduced himself and explained that he had questions about the vehicle purchase.
I couldn't hear Ethan's response, but I watched Dad's expression.
It changed twice.
First, confusion.
Then disbelief.
Finally, anger.
"You're telling me my wife requested that the car be registered in her son's name?"" Dad asked.
A pause.
"And you accepted a deposit from her?""
Another pause.
"From an account connected to my daughter's education savings?""
Dad stood.
"I'll be there in an hour.""
He ended the call.
I stared at him.
"What did Ethan say?""
Dad took a long breath.
"The dealership received a deposit six weeks ago for a black SUV. The reservation was made under Jordan's name.""
"The SUV in the email?""
"Yes.""
"And the money?""
"They say the deposit came from an account Denise provided.""
I felt sick.
Dad rubbed his forehead.
"But that's not all. Ethan says Denise also discussed the white car with him several months ago.""
I looked toward the driveway.
"The car she gave Jordan?""
"Yes.""
Dad picked up his keys.
"She told him it was supposed to be a surprise for you. She also asked whether the dealership could prepare the paperwork so Jordan could be listed as the primary driver.""
My mouth fell open.
"Why would she do that?""
Dad looked at me.
"That's what I'm going to find out.""
The dealership smelled of polished leather and fresh coffee.
Cars stood beneath bright showroom lights, their windshields displaying prices that seemed impossibly high. A salesman in a gray suit greeted us at the entrance, but Dad asked directly for Ethan.
The salesman led us to a glass-walled office at the back.
Ethan stood when we entered.
He was younger than I'd expected, perhaps in his late thirties, with neatly combed hair and a silver watch.
"Mr. Williams," he said, extending his hand.
"I understand this has been a difficult situation.""
Dad didn't shake it.
"Did my wife ask you to put my daughter's car in her son's name?""
Ethan lowered his hand.
"She asked about different registration options.""
"That isn't what I asked.""
Ethan glanced at me.
Then he closed the office door.
"Your wife told me that the vehicle was being purchased for the household, and that Jordan would be the primary driver.""
"My daughter was promised that car.""
"I understand that now.""
"How?""
Ethan hesitated.
"She mentioned the graduation.""
Dad stared at him.
"You knew it was a graduation present?""
"She told me that was the occasion.""
I felt my cheeks grow hot.
"So you knew it was meant for me, but you still prepared the paperwork for Jordan?""
Ethan turned toward me.
"Maya, I didn't know there was a dispute between you and your stepmother.""
"You knew my father was buying the car.""
"Yes.""
"You knew he was paying for it.""
"Yes.""
"And you knew Denise wanted it put in Jordan's name.""
Ethan rubbed his jaw.
"She said your father had agreed to that arrangement.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Did you verify it with me?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
Ethan looked down.
"Because the payment was being made, and I was told you had authorized your wife to handle the details.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"That's not an answer.""
Ethan exhaled.
"You're right. I should have confirmed it directly.""
He returned to his desk and opened a file.
"The white vehicle was purchased under your name, Mr. Williams. The registration paperwork has not been finalized, which means we can correct the information before completion.""
Dad nodded once.
"Good.""
Ethan removed another document.
"This is the reservation for the black SUV.""
He placed it on the desk.
The deposit was listed as $7,500.
I recognized the date from the bank statement.
Six weeks earlier.
Dad examined the document.
"Who authorized this payment?""
"Mrs. Williams.""
"From which account?""
Ethan pointed to the payment details.
Dad read the information twice.
Then he looked up.
"This is the account linked to Maya's college savings.""
Ethan's face changed.
"I was told it was a family account.""
"It's an education account.""
"I wasn't aware of that.""
Dad's voice remained steady.
"Did you receive any documents authorizing Denise to use those funds?""
Ethan hesitated.
Then he opened a drawer and removed a printed email.
"I received this from her.""
He handed it to Dad.
The message was short.
Ethan, as discussed, the funds are available for Jordan's vehicle. Please process the reservation under his name. Marcus is aware of the arrangement, and the remaining details will be handled privately.
At the bottom was Denise's name.
Dad read it without speaking.
Then he handed it to me.
I read the email three times.
She had written that Dad was aware.
She had told the dealership that the money was available.
And she had asked for the transaction to be handled privately.
My hands trembled.
"She lied to him, too," I whispered.
Ethan looked uncomfortable.
"Mrs. Williams seemed confident that everything had been approved.""
Dad placed the email on the desk.
"Did she tell you where the money came from?""
"No.""
"Did you ask?""
Ethan didn't answer immediately.
Then he shook his head.
"No.""
Dad nodded slowly.
"Then I suggest you preserve every record connected to these purchases. Emails. Payment confirmations. Any messages exchanged with my wife.""
Ethan straightened.
"Of course.""
"And I want written confirmation that the white car will not be transferred to Jordan.""
"We can arrange that.""
Dad stood.
"Thank you.""
As we left the office, Ethan called after us.
"Mr. Williams?""
Dad turned.
Ethan glanced at me before speaking.
"There is one other thing you should know.""
Dad waited.
Ethan returned to the desk and opened another folder.
"About two months ago, Denise asked whether we could purchase the white car through a financing arrangement and use the down payment to cover a separate transaction.""
Dad frowned.
"What separate transaction?""
Ethan shook his head.
"She didn't provide details. She said she was trying to move money around temporarily and would settle the balance before the end of the month.""
"Did you agree?""
"No. Our finance department wouldn't approve the arrangement without the proper documentation.""
Dad stared at him.
"Did she ask you to hide anything from me?""
Ethan hesitated.
Then he nodded.
"She asked me not to call you until the paperwork was ready.""
I felt cold all over.
Dad's voice dropped.
"Why?""
"She said she wanted to surprise you.""
A bitter laugh escaped Dad.
"That woman has a very strange idea of a surprise.""
We left the dealership with copies of the documents and a promise that the reservation records would be preserved.
In the parking lot, Dad leaned against his truck.
For a moment, he looked as if he needed to sit down.
"Dad?""
He shook his head.
"I'm all right.""
"You don't look all right.""
He gave me a tired smile.
"I'm trying to understand how someone can look me in the eye every night and tell me everything is fine while doing all this behind my back.""
I didn't know what to say.
He opened the truck door, then stopped.
"Maya, I need you to understand something.""
I looked at him.
"None of this is your fault. Not the money. Not the car. Not the way Denise has treated you.""
My throat tightened.
"I know.""
He studied my face.
"Do you?""
I looked away.
Because the truth was, a small part of me still wondered whether I'd caused this by speaking up.
If I'd accepted the bus pass, perhaps Dad would never have examined the account.
If I'd kept quiet, perhaps Denise would have continued taking money without anyone noticing.
But then I remembered the forged signature.
She hadn't simply made a bad decision.
She had made a plan that depended on my silence.
"I know," I repeated.
This time, I believed it a little more.
We returned home just after noon.
Jordan was in the living room, playing a racing game on the television. He barely looked up when we entered.
"Where have you been?""
Dad set the folder on the coffee table.
"The dealership.""
Jordan paused the game.
"Why?""
"Because I wanted to understand why a second vehicle was being purchased in your name.""
His face changed.
"What second vehicle?""
Dad stared at him.
"The black SUV your mother reserved.""
Jordan put down the controller.
"Mom said she was helping me get a car.""
"Did you know she used money from Maya's college account?""
Jordan shook his head.
"No.""
"Did you know she had been planning to transfer the white car into your name?""
He hesitated.
Then he looked toward the staircase.
"She said it was going to be mine eventually.""
Dad closed his eyes briefly.
"Eventually?""
Jordan rubbed his hands over his jeans.
"She said you were getting old, and eventually the house and everything else would be ours.""
The room went silent.
I stared at him.
"What does that mean?""
Jordan looked uncomfortable.
"Nothing.""
"No. You don't get to say something like that and then pretend it means nothing.""
He stood.
"Mom said you were going to college and wouldn't be around. She said the family would need to make decisions without you.""
Dad's face became unreadable.
"What decisions?""
Jordan swallowed.
"She said she wanted to make sure I had something of my own.""
"By taking what belongs to Maya?""
"I didn't know it was her money!""
Dad pointed toward the stairs.
"Where is your mother?""
Jordan hesitated.
"Upstairs.""
"Tell her I want to speak to her.""
Jordan didn't move.
Dad's voice sharpened.
"Now.""
Jordan went upstairs.
A minute later, Denise appeared at the top of the staircase.
She looked at Dad.
Then at the folder in his hand.
And she knew.
"How much did Ethan tell you?"" she asked.
Dad slowly raised his eyes.
"Enough to know you've been lying to me for months.""
Denise gripped the banister.
"I can explain everything.""
"Then explain this.""
Dad held up the dealership email.
She stared at it.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then she descended the stairs, one step at a time.
When she reached the bottom, she looked directly at me.
"You had no right to go digging through my business.""
I felt a strange calm settle over me.
"My money is my business.""
Her lips tightened.
Dad placed the documents on the coffee table.
"Where did the rest of the money go, Denise?""
She looked away.
"I told you. Household expenses.""
"Not the money in the SUV reservation. The other transfers.""
She said nothing.
Dad stepped closer.
"Thirty-eight thousand dollars is missing. We found the reservation for Jordan's SUV. We found the forged authorization. We found emails in which you claimed I had approved transactions I never knew about.""
Denise's eyes glistened.
"You don't understand what I was trying to do.""
"Then help me understand.""
She looked at Jordan.
He lowered his head.
Then she looked at me.
For a moment, her expression softened, and I thought she might finally tell the truth.
Instead, she whispered, "I was protecting my son.""
Dad shook his head.
"From what?""
Her voice broke.
"From being left with nothing.""
I stared at her.
"Nobody was leaving you with nothing.""
She looked at me with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
"You don't know what your father promised me.""
Dad went completely still.
"What did you just say?""
Denise's eyes widened.
She had said too much.
And when Dad asked her what promise she was talking about, she backed toward the staircase.
"Forget it.""
"No.""
"Marcus, please.""
"What promise?""
She turned and ran upstairs.
A door slammed.
Dad stood motionless in the living room.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
It was Patricia, the bank manager.
He answered immediately.
"Hello?""
I watched his expression as he listened.
At first, he simply nodded.
Then his shoulders stiffened.
"You're certain?""
A pause.
"Yes, I understand.""
He looked at the documents on the coffee table.
"Send me everything you can.""
He ended the call slowly.
I stepped closer.
"What did she say?""
Dad looked at me.
"The bank found another transfer.""
"How much?""
He swallowed.
"Twenty thousand dollars.""
My stomach dropped.
"Where did it go?""
Dad stared toward the staircase.
"To an account in another name.""
"Whose name?""
He shook his head.
"They're still verifying the details.""
Then he looked at me, and I saw something in his expression that frightened me more than his anger had.
Recognition.
As if he had finally understood why Denise had been so desperate to keep us from examining the records.
"There's something else," he whispered.
"What?""
He held up his phone.
"The account was opened nearly a year ago.""
I stared at him.
"By Denise?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
He turned the screen toward me.
The account holder's name appeared beneath the transfer confirmation.
*Laura Bennett.*
I had never heard that name before.
Dad, however, looked as if he'd seen a ghost.
He sat down heavily.
"That's impossible.""
I knelt beside him.
"Dad, who is Laura Bennett?""
He didn't answer.
May you like
His eyes remained fixed on the screen.
Then, very quietly, he said, "She's the woman Denise told me she hadn't spoken to in fifteen years.""
