Chapter 3 - The Digital Trail
Dad walked over to the kitchen counter where his phone was charging, unplugged it, and opened his banking apps. His jaw was clenched so tight the muscles in his cheeks twitched.
"Show me your phone, Dana," Dad said quietly, holding out his hand.
"Adam, it's Christmas morning!" Dana protested, her voice rising in defensive hysteria. "Are you really going to ruin our family’s holiday over a clerical mistake? We are supposed to be celebrating! We can go to Best Buy tomorrow and buy her silly little drawing pad if it means that much to you!"
"It’s not a silly little drawing pad," I whispered, the tears finally spilling over my eyelashes. "It was the only thing I asked for."
Grandma Ruth reached out and grabbed my hand. Her skin was warm and paper-thin, but her grip was like steel. "Don't you cry, Natalie. Truth has a funny way of making its own noise, and the noise is just getting started."
"Give me the phone, Dana," Dad repeated, stepping closer. "Now."
Seeing that Dad wasn't backing down, Dana aggressively snatched her phone off the mantelpiece and shoved it into his chest. "Fine! Look at it! See how I manage every single penny in this household while you sit at your desk all day! See what it takes to give our kids a magical Christmas!"
Dad unlocked her phone—they shared passcodes—and tapped directly into her transaction history.
The living room fell into absolute stillness again. Mason pulled his knees up to his chest on the rug, wrapping his arms around them, clearly mortified.
Dad scrolled. Once. Twice. Then his thumb stopped.
"The transfer came through on December 3rd," Dad read aloud, his voice dangerously low. "Four hundred dollars from Ruth Walker. And on December 4th, you made a single purchase at the luxury boutique downtown for three hundred and eighty-five dollars."
Dad turned the screen toward her. "A designer leather handbag. You bought yourself a purse, Dana."
Dana gasped, her face flushing crimson. "That was on sale! I needed a professional bag for my client interviews! I had every intention of replacing the funds from my side gig before Christmas, but the payment got delayed!"
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"And what about Natalie's gift?" Dad asked, pointing at the tiny red box still resting on the floor beside my feet. "When did you buy the socks?"
Dad scrolled down further on her app, his expression turning to pure disgust. "Yesterday afternoon. At 5:45 PM. At the gas station down the street."
