Chapter 3 - Grandpa’s MoneyStanley had money.
Hallie knew that in the way children knew weather.
It existed around him.
His car was expensive.
His watches were shiny.
Adults returned his phone calls immediately.
When Stanley entered restaurants, managers greeted him by name.
But Hallie had never connected Stanley’s money to her home.
The mansion belonged to her parents.
At least, that was what she had assumed.
After Stanley’s warning, she began noticing things.
Her father’s office door closed whenever Stanley called.
Her mother became quiet after opening certain envelopes.
At dinner, the adults stopped talking if Hallie or Brett entered.
Three days after their birthday, Hallie heard Stanley’s voice from the library.
“You have six months.”
Her father answered.
“I know.”
“No, Ethan. I don’t think you do.”
Hallie froze outside the door.
Her father’s name was Ethan.
Stanley continued.
“The loan modification was my favor to you. There will not be another.”
Mother said, “Dad, please.”
“I warned you before you bought this place.”
Hallie’s heart accelerated.
Bought this place?
Stanley continued.
“And now you want to tell me how I treat my grandson in a house I saved?”
Hallie backed away.
A floorboard creaked.
The conversation stopped.
The library door opened.
Stanley stood there.
Hallie stared up.
“What are you doing?”
“Going to my room.”
“You were listening.”
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Hallie.”
She looked down.
Stanley stepped into the hallway.
“You need to learn not to involve yourself in adult matters.”
“Is this your house?”
He paused.
“No.”
“Then why did you say you saved it?”
Stanley’s expression became unreadable.
“Go upstairs.”
“Do Mom and Dad owe you money?”
The library went silent behind him.
Stanley looked back at the twins’ parents.
Then at Hallie.
“Upstairs.”
Hallie ran.
Brett waited in her room.
She had asked him to stay there while she went downstairs for water.
“What happened?”
Hallie closed the door.
“Grandpa gave Mom and Dad money.”
“So?”
“A lot.”
“How do you know?”
“He said he saved the house.”
Brett frowned.
Hallie sat beside him.
“Maybe that’s why they listen to him.”
“About my present?”
“I think so.”
Brett looked toward the gaming setup visible through the hallway.
For the first time, he seemed uncomfortable even looking at it.
“I can give it back.”
Hallie stared.
“What?”
“The present.”
“You like it.”
“Yeah.”
“You wanted it.”
“Yeah.”
“Then keep it.”
“But Grandpa used it to hurt you.”
Hallie did not know how to answer.
Brett was not Stanley.
That mattered.
She touched his hand.
“I’m mad at them.”
“Not me?”
Hallie shook her head.
“Not you.”
Brett looked relieved.
Then guilty for looking relieved.
That evening, Mother came into Hallie’s room.
She sat on the edge of the bed.
“I owe you an apology.”
Hallie waited.
“We should never have let yesterday happen.”
“Our birthday was four days ago.”
Mother looked pained.
“You’re right.”
“Why didn’t you stop Grandpa?”
Mother folded her hands.
“Because your grandfather helped your father and me when we were in financial trouble.”
“With the house?”
“Yes.”
“Does he own it?”
“No.”
“Can he take it?”
Mother hesitated.
That answer frightened Hallie.
“He gave your father a business loan several years ago. Your father’s company struggled. We used part of the house as security when Stanley refinanced that debt for us.”
Hallie understood almost none of the financial language.
But she understood one thing.
“Grandpa can make us leave?”
“Not like that.”
“Can he?”
Mother looked toward the floor.
“If your father stopped paying for a long time, there could be serious consequences.”
“So Grandpa is the boss.”
“No.”
Hallie looked directly at her.
“You act like he is.”
Mother’s eyes filled.
Hallie had not meant to make her cry.
She whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Mother shook her head.
“No. Don’t apologize.”
She took Hallie’s hand.
“I’ve been afraid of upsetting him.”
“Why?”
“Because your dad’s business is still recovering. Because this house costs too much. Because Stanley helped us when no one else would.”
“Then he gets to be mean?”
“No.”
The answer came quickly.
For the first time.
“No, Hallie. He doesn’t.”
“Then why did you let him?”
Mother had no answer.
Later, she went downstairs.
Hallie followed quietly.
She stopped at the top of the staircase.
Her mother entered the library where Father sat.
“We need to fix this.”
Father looked up.
“The birthday?”
“Everything.”
“Claire…”
Mother’s name was Claire.
She closed the door.
Hallie moved closer.
“We’ve let my father decide too much.”
“He controls the debt.”
“He does not control our children.”
“He can call the note.”
“Then let him.”
Silence.
Father stood.
“You don’t understand what that would mean.”
“I understand exactly.”
“We could lose the house.”
“Then maybe we lose the house.”
Hallie’s eyes widened.
Her father lowered his voice.
“You’re emotional.”
“No. I am finally embarrassed enough to see what we’ve become.”
Hallie covered her mouth.
Mother continued.
“Our daughter stood alone in the hallway on her own birthday because we were too afraid of your balance sheet to defend her.”
Father said nothing.
“She asked where her present was, Ethan.”
“I remember.”
“And we looked away.”
A long silence followed.
Then Father whispered:
“I hate myself for it.”
Hallie’s eyes filled.
She wanted to enter.
To hug him.
Instead she stayed hidden.
Mother’s voice softened.
“Then help me change it.”
Father breathed out.
“Stanley isn’t going to change.”
“Then we do.”
Downstairs, a phone began ringing.
Father looked at the screen.
Stanley.
May you like
Neither parent answered.
For the first time Hallie could remember, they let it ring.
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