Her expression fell slightly.
"But getting accepted is an achievement. We can be proud of it while we figure out the money."
Maya looked up.
For a moment, she seemed uncertain whether she had heard correctly.
Then a smile appeared.
Richard crossed the kitchen.
He stopped in front of her.
"May I hug you?"
She laughed softly.
"Yeah, Dad."
He wrapped his arms around her.
She held him tightly.
For a moment, he remembered another young woman celebrating a dream in this kitchen.
Laura had once stood in almost the same place after the first housing rehabilitation grant was approved.
She threw her arms around Richard and laughed because she believed they were finally going to build something that mattered.
He had forgotten how happy she was that day.
Now, holding their daughter, he remembered.
And he silently promised himself he would not treat Maya's future as an inconvenience.
Later that evening, while reviewing tuition costs, Richard asked about the educational trust Laura had established for the children.
Maya looked surprised.
"Nicole told me that was gone."
Richard stopped.
"What?"
"The money Mom left."
She looked toward him.
"Nicole said most of it was spent on medical bills and family expenses after Mom died."
Richard stared.
Laura had established separate funds intended to help both children with education and future expenses.
He knew about them.
But after Laura's death, he gradually allowed Nicole and Adrian to handle much of the paperwork.
He had not personally reviewed the detailed statements for several years.
A cold sensation moved through his chest.
"Who told you that?"
"Nicole."
"Did she show you the statements?"
Maya shook her head.
"No."
Richard looked down at the acceptance letter.
Then toward the financial records on his desk.
Something began connecting.
Nicole had accused Maya of hiding a pregnancy test shortly after the teenager requested information about her college savings.
Nicole had insisted Maya was irresponsible.
Had threatened to tell Richard she could not be trusted with money.
Had struck her when she refused to confess.
Richard suddenly understood that the confrontation might not have been only cruelty.
It might have been a distraction.
He called his attorney the following morning.
The trust review revealed another set of financial irregularities.
Laura had created educational accounts for Maya and Ethan with assistance from an estate attorney.
Richard was the principal trustee.
The accounts were intended for the children's benefit.
Distributions required proper authorization and documentation.
Over the years, some legitimate expenses had been paid.
But other transfers were questionable.
Several had been initiated through financial access associated with Nicole's administrative role.
Others involved documentation that appeared to contain Richard's electronic authorization, although he denied approving the transactions.