Alls fair when it comes to family money, you know? So, everyones gathered around at Mums for a family Sunday roast. Classic cover-up really, theyre all there to discuss Nans savings, but its under the pretext of having a nice meal together. Sarah, whos Mums daughter and mother to Emily and Ben, is fiddling with Nans old fabric purses those little pouches Nan used for tucking away cash. Nan cant really manage her money anymore these days. She barely remembers anyone, but Sarah, out of habit, still pops her pension into those same cloth purses every week.
See! Look at this! Sarah sighed, turning to her family, Its missing again. At least two hundred quid! I know Im not daft, I counted it myself. Where does it all go? Mum, do you remember how much you had stashed away?
Nan turned over, but not to her daughter she looked towards the photo of her late husband on the mantelpiece.
Oh, Peter what a handsome man you were She then glanced at Emily. And you, dear, dont keep poking around in my sweets. Theyre for the guests! Is Ben at school?
Sarah folded up the notes. Of course her mum didnt remember how much cash there was. Still, Sarah was convinced: someone must be nicking the money. Which was mad, really, because only family ever comes round. But there it is someones definitely got sticky fingers! And who from? An old lady
Just then, Ben turned up the same Ben Granny had been asking about.
Whats with the funeral faces? he joked, tossing his car keys on the table.
His mum, Sarah, nearly burst into tears. Ben, love, its awful. The money! Nans pensions gone again. Ive been putting it in her cupboard for months now but someone keeps swiping it!
Ben looked around the room with a smirk. Sarah still trusted everyone. Ben, on the other hand, trusted no one not even the cat.
Money, you say? Keeps vanishing? He narrowed his eyes. I reckon I know exactly where its ending up.
He strode out to the hallway and came back lugging Emilys striped holdall. She barely had a chance to protest before Ben unzipped it, ignoring Sarahs shrieks, and dumped everything onto the old plastic tablecloth.
Out tumbled lip balm, keys, a broken compact mirror, and bundles of notes.
Loads of them.
Crinkled, but unmistakably bank notes. A good few hundred quid, in twenties and fifties.
Have a look at this! he crowed, waving a twenty, I flung her bag down by accident just now, picked it up, and out falls this! Look how familiar these notes are!
Auntie Margaret, who up till now had been wolfing down her salad, nearly choked.
Each note, if you looked closely, had a bit of blue biro scrawled on it a fine little line.
Remember, Ben went on, last month, Mum was counting Nans pension, and Jack doodled with his pen on the notes for a laugh? Well, here they are. The same notes, straight out of Nans pension pot.
Every eye in the room swiveled to Emily.
Emily had been frozen to her chair, but now she jumped.
Ben! What are you doing?
Me? Look, Im just saying: I dropped your bag, found a pile of notes. Pretty recognisable ones too.
Panicked, Emily realised shouting at Ben would get her nowhere. She had to defend herself.
It wasnt me! she blurted, nearly knocking over her chair.
Even Nan managed to turn round at the commotion.
Whos making that racket? Whereve my slippers gone? she called.
The whole room was silent, like rabbits in headlights.
Emily, love Sarah stood up, Why? Why’d you do it? You work, I help you! How could you steal from Nan?
Mum, honestly, I didnt! Ive never touched her money!
Who else was it then? Ben pressed, Youre the only one whos always here, always fussing over Nan. Only you have access to her savings. Mums got the key, but shed never do such a thing. That leaves you.
Emily looked like she might bolt for the door.
I swear I never touched anything!
She fixed her eyes on her mum, hoping for a shred of sympathy, but Sarah looked at her like she was a stranger.
Youre lying, Sarah whispered. How could you
I love Nan! Emily broke down, sobbing. I was only ever here to help her! I never took a penny!
Sadly, logic wasnt on her side. The notes had tumbled out of her own bag. No other suspects.
That settles it then, Ben said, dusting his hands, Im gutted, Em. You only had to ask, wed have helped you. But stealing from Nan? Nobody expected that.
That night, they sent Emily out the door and her world turned upside down. Nobody wanted to hear her side. Her mum calmed down and asked everyone to be kinder, but
Dont let her come round, Sarah, hissed Auntie Margaret on the phone, when Sarah tried to reason with her, Think what a disgrace this is! Nan might not understand now, but if she knew what Emilys done
Sarah listened. She basically stopped speaking to her daughter. When Emily rang, she only gave clipped answers: busy, later, not now.
Emily tried calling every one of them from different numbers, but the moment they realised it was her, theyd hang up. She tried investigating herself, but there was nowhere to go: nobody would talk, and she wasnt allowed near Nans anymore.
Only her mum agreed to meet up after continuous pestering.
Mum, please, Emily almost begged, I know this sounds like a lame excuse, but I swear to you it wasnt me! Dont you believe me?
Mum looked pained. It was worse for her than anyone.
Emily It hurts, but the money was found in your bag. Lets stop. If itd just been me, maybe Id let it go, but the whole family saw you. They wont forget And neither will I. Nan did so much for you, sweetheart.
But I didnt do it! Maybe the notes got there by accident? Or from a different bag? Maybe someone else
Enough, her mum cut her off, Youre my child, I want to trust you. But the facts are the facts. Youre a thief in their eyes.
With that, Sarah walked away, leaving Emily out in the cold.
They didnt even let her say goodbye to her Nan.
Emily waited till the dust settled and everyone left, then turned up at Nans hoping perhaps Mum was there. Sarah, though hard, would still sometimes talk to her. Maybe now shed listen?
But Ben answered the door.
He was tall, and Emily had to crane her neck to look him in the eye. Maybe this was good she always thought she might get the truth out of him.
Ben, Emily pleaded, Please, can we talk? Just once more.
He shook his head. You really think you can save your reputation? Lost cause, Em. Best own up to it; maybe eventually they’ll forgive you.
But apologising for something you didnt do? Not Emilys style.
No. I need the truth from you. Maybe you made a mistake, maybe the money came from somewhere else, maybe
But Bens face went cold.
Mistake? Emily, are you really that naïve? he whispered, leaning in. Of course I know you didnt steal it. I put the cash in your bag myself.
For a moment, she saw stars.
What? was all she managed.
Exactly that.
But why? she stammered. Why would you do that to me?
He shrugged. Getting rid of the competition.
See, when theres an inheritance at stake,” he said, voice hard, anything goes, sis. Nan didnt have long left, we all saw it. Mums put the flat in her name already, you remember, to avoid any legal faff. Trouble was, Mum sentimental as always planned to give the place to you.
Emily looked completely lost.
But why?
Because you, dear Emily, he sneered, were here every evening looking after Nan. Feeding her, tidying the flat, reading her stories she couldnt even follow anymore. The perfect grandchild. Mum thought you deserved it all. What about me, eh? Am I not family? Havent I earned something? So I played to win.
I never did it for the flat! Emily shouted, her head buzzing with pain, I did it for Nan! I loved her!
He snorted.
Dont kid yourself, Em. Everyones after something. You put on the good girl act to bag the house. But I beat you at your own game. 10.
Emily stood in stony silence, so he decided to finish it for her.
Now youre the thief. Mum wont ever turn on her golden boy, not when Im the perfect son. You, youre finished here. The flats mine, obviously. No way you can show your face in this family again.
You utter Emily started, but gave up.
Ben shrugged. Thats life. Ta-ra, sis. Inheritance settled.
He pulled open the door.
Emily didnt move. Sure, having somewhere to live would have helped rents sky-high and owning anything in England is a pipe dream. But honestly, it wasnt about that. She really had loved Nan. She remembered, even when Nan was a bit lost, how she once stroked Emilys cheek and whispered, Thanks for coming, sweetheart. Just like my Peter.
Now, to clear her name, shed have to prove Ben was lying. But how?
No way to do it.
She walked away, shutting the door behind her. She knew that, in a years time, no one would remember shed ever been anything but the girl who stole from her dying Nan.
Ben had won. And he was loving every minute of it.
