I knew something was wrong when I spotted my brother driving around in a bright red convertible. I had no idea that the car would be the key to a treachery that I had not anticipated, as well as a scheme that Gran had started long before she passed away.
Juniper is my name. I’ve been living out of state for the past four years, and I’m currently 26. To be honest, leaving my family and all the pain they caused was the best choice I have ever made.
Not that I ever felt like I belonged to them. Maverick, my older brother, had always been the favorite of my parents. It wouldn’t even begin to describe him to claim that he was the golden child. I was simply there as a child. Gran used to joke that she was “spare,” but there was always tenderness in her voice when she said it.
I left in part because of that. That and my partner, Noel, of course. He persuaded me that it was time to live for myself and make a name for myself apart from my family.
I moved to the city with him, leaving behind my parents, Maverick, and all the memories, after we packed up our small car.
I once told him over dinner, “Noel, I swear, I just couldn’t stay there anymore.” I can still picture him grinning at me across the table as his hand reached out to take mine.
June, you don’t have to explain it to me once more. Squeezing my hand, he had comforted me, “You did the right thing.” “You deserve more than being the second choice.”
My family and I had not spoken in four years. Less people were making calls, and texts were only used occasionally. My folks? To be honest, they didn’t appear to mind. I appeared to have simply vanished from their lives. Gran was the only one who maintained contact.
The only member of my family who gave me a sense of significance was she. She used to call me late at night to check on me and sneak me chocolate bars when my mom wasn’t around when I was younger.
Gran didn’t give a damn if I thought my life was a disaster or if it was dull. She did nothing except listen.
Then one day I learned that she had passed away. By accident. Nothing—not a message, not a call. Is that really true? Of all places, I was perusing through Facebook when I came across a post from a former family member. Gran’s photo. A “Rest in Peace” note and a date.
My breathing stopped. I was looking at my phone nonstop, expecting things to make sense, but they weren’t. It felt as though my heart had been torn from my chest.
I got up, put my phone down on the table, and whispered, “Gran’s gone.”
Noel raised his head from the sofa. “What? How come you say she’s not there?”
“She passed away. Not even one person informed me.” Tears burned in my eyes, but they weren’t just tears of loss; they were also rage and even betrayal. “How could they not tell me?”
It didn’t make sense, but in an instant, Noel was standing up and embracing me. Why had my parents not given me a call? Maverick included. Nothing.
That same evening, I made a reservation for a flight home.
I had to pay a visit to Gran’s grave, no matter how long it took. At least on my terms, I had to say goodbye. I had battled so hard to get away from my hometown, which I had not seen in years, and I found myself strolling through it the following morning. With one exception, everything was as I remembered it.
I blinked, stunned. “The… what?”
Something sent shivers down my spine as I stood at the corner of the street by the cemetery. Maverick, my brother, driving by in a sleek red convertible.
Maverick? The one who could hardly make ends meet while working as a cashier? He appeared to be driving an automobile that was worth more than his entire life savings.
My stomach turned over. There was a problem.
Later that day, the only sound in the area was the gentle rustle of the trees as I stood beside Gran’s grave. The tightness in my stomach persisted, and the dirt felt fresh. Gran had truly disappeared. I never got the chance to tell her how much she meant to me; therefore, I hadn’t been able to say goodbye properly.
Even now, the shock of learning of her passing from a Facebook post hurt like a fresh cut.
I was kneeling next to the cemetery when I heard footsteps coming. Gran’s dearest friend, Mr. Anderson, was there as I looked up. An elderly gentleman of great kindness, he would always watch after Gran and assist her in her hour of need. He walked over, his face solemn.
He stood next to me and murmured softly, “Juniper, I’m so sorry.” “Your Gran… she was a one-of-a-kind lady.”
The lump in my throat was swallowed. “She was, in fact. All I want is more time to spend with her.”
He gave a nod, his gaze averted. After a pause, he questioned me, “Did you get the $20,000 she left you?” turning to face me.
Startled, I blink. “The… what?”
Mr. Anderson’s eyebrows sprang upward. “Your grandmother. She left $20,000 for you in her will, as she said. I took it for granted that you were aware.”
My heart fell. The crimson convertible Maverick was driving suddenly made perfect sense. The resentment that had been building within me finally erupted. I mumbled, “No,” and got to my feet, clenching my fists at my sides. “I didn’t know.”
Mr. Anderson had a pallid face. “Oh, Juniper, I’m so sorry.”
But I had stopped paying attention. My mission was to reach Maverick’s trailer. Right now.
With a racing mind, I hurried back to my car. I hadn’t given it much consideration that Maverick, who could never hold down a steady job, was now driving around in a fancy car. It was, of course, my money. The only family member who genuinely cared about me, Gran, left me money, which he took without thinking twice.
Upon arriving at Maverick’s trailer, I prepared myself for an intense altercation. But what I saw brought me to a complete stop. The red convertible was entirely destroyed, lying crumpled on the driveway.
The windshield was broken, the tires were flat, and the front bumper was damaged. The car appeared to have been involved in a severe collision.
And there was Maverick, standing in his beaten-up trailer’s doorway. His leg was in a cast, and he was using crutches to support himself. His face was covered with cuts and bruises.
He was already facing his retribution.
I approached him, shock taking the place of my fury for a moment. “Maverick, what the hell happened?”
With unease, he moved on his crutches and looked away from me. “It’s… it’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” I pointed to the totaled vehicle. That appears to be more than nothing. “How did you proceed? And Maverick, why did you steal Gran’s money?”
Knowing he had no choice but to face it, he winced. “Juniper, I didn’t intend for things to turn out this way. I… All I wanted to do was take it. I intended to repay you. But then I noticed the vehicle, and…”
“Borrow it?” “I couldn’t believe it. One does not simply ‘steal’ $20,000 that was not bequeathed to them. Gran gave me the money, yet you treated it as if it were nothing. And now, give you a peek. karma, Maverick. This is it. You deserve this.”
Maverick parted his lips to object, but my work was far from over. “You constantly steal everything. Everything about my parents—their love and attention—was always focused on you. However, this? This was not like that. You stole this from Gran, the one person who genuinely cared about me.”
Maverick’s head hung. “I apologize for my mistake. I considered—”
“You thought what?” I lost my temper. “That I would remain unaware of? That the things Gran left me weren’t worth it?”
He was at a loss for words. With everything hanging in the balance, we stood there in quiet. Then, my phone buzzed in my pocket as I turned to walk away. It was Gran’s attorney, Mr. Clearwater.
“Mr. Clearwater?” I said, continuing to look at Maverick.
Mr. Clearwater added, “Juniper, I’ve been going over your grandmother’s will.” He spoke in a steady, quiet tone, as if he realized I needed some comfort. There is something you need to be aware of. Your grandmother foresaw that this would occur.”
“What do you mean?” My heart was racing when I asked.
“She prepared a strategy because she anticipated that Maverick would attempt to steal the money. Her entire estate was worth more than $20,000. Juniper, you own everything else, including her house, assets, and investments. She’s left you in charge of everything.”
I was hearing things that I couldn’t believe. “Everything?”
“Yes, everything,” Mr. Clearwater answered. “Your grandmother made it rather apparent. She wanted you to be independent of others, therefore, she made sure you were taken care of.”
My eyes pinched with tears, but they weren’t tears of sorrow. Gran was aware. She had seen everything and had shielded me in a way that only she could. She was watching out for me and letting me know that I mattered even after she passed away.
I inhaled deeply, gaining balance, and turned to face Maverick. “Maverick, I hope that convertible was worthwhile. I hope you had fun on the journey.”
“Juniper, I—” he began, his voice faltering.
I interrupted him by raising my hand. “Avoid. I’m beyond giving reasons why, Maverick. Simply store it.”
I turned and left him standing there, broken in more ways than one, without waiting for a reply. I no longer felt like the overlooked sibling for the first time. Gran had seen to that.
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