Page 17 of The Thief That Stole Christmas (Indulgence)
After way too many outfit changes, giggles at our excitement for the kitten and mouse onesies, and making us play another game of rock-paper-scissors—so we could decide whose onesie she’d wear first—we’re finally cuddled up on the couch with Zanya between the two of us. I feel an inordinate amount of joy looking at her on Cameron’s lap, wearing the hooded mouse outfit.
“Kitty Cat, you ready to talk now?”
Cameron starts.
She nods in answer before looking at me.
“I don’t want to hurt him.”
“Then we won’t hurt him, pragtig. We have all the evidence to get him locked up for a good while.”
She’s quiet for a long time, biting on her lower lip.
“Am I a very bad person if I don’t feel like that’s enough punishment?”
Cameron strokes her hair before answering
“No, that just makes you human. Honestly? I don’t think jail time is enough, either. Do you have any other suggestions though, love?”
Again, she doesn’t speak. I want to smooth away the frown on her face. And then the most amazing thing happens. Her face lights up with pure joy.
“I have just the thing!”
She then proceeds to tell us her plan, and with each sentence, I like it more and more.
Watching Zanya as she stands in front of her uncle, shoulders squared, is a proud moment. She’s facing him head on. After making him wait until Christmas Eve. With a few careful social media posts, we’ve made it known that he’s taken a trip to warmer climates for the holidays.
We’re all dressed for the party at Rainbow Haven. Gifts have been wrapped and shipped off to the venue Andre rented for the event. We’ve decorated so many trees that I feel like I’ll be finding bits of tinsel everywhere for the next couple of months.
Albert swallows audibly as I take a step closer to them. My hand rests on her lower back to give her another small boost of confidence.
“I’ve made my decision and now it’s time to make yours, Uncle. You have two choices. Either we hand over everything we have, and we have a lot, and you’re put away for quite some time. And when you finally come back out, none of your friends will even want to look at you.”
The man in question opens his mouth to speak up, but a scathing look from me has him closing his lips.
“Or, and personally, I like this one best, I will give you exactly what you gave me.”
The look of confusion on his face is laughable.
“Ah, I see you don’t understand, Uncle. Here’s the deal. You sign over my trust and all the shares in Dad’s company to me. I get control of my own life and finances. In turn, I will gift you the same little flat I’ve been staying in, with the same stipend you paid to me every month. If I could live off it, so can you.”
The weasely-looking man is furious. His face is bright red and you can practically see steam coming from his ears. But he doesn’t say a word.
“What’s it gonna be, boet?”
My voice is a low growl and his shoulders immediately slump. I have a reputation for a reason, and being able to use it for my Little Mouse is brilliant.
He whispers something inaudible and when Cameron clears his throat, the piece of scum speaks up.
“I’ll give you back the trust. But what am I going to tell everyone when I have to move into that hovel?”
“You’ll tell them what’s good enough for your niece is good enough for you,”
I growl out.
Wisely, he chooses not to say anything else. Cameron explains to him that Andre’s legal council has drawn up all the documents needed and we watch over him as he signs on each dotted line.
As soon as the paperwork can be filed in the new year, Zanya will have complete control of her finances and can finally do exactly as she wants. Until then, her uncle will remain here where we can keep an eye on him.
Finally done with the unpleasant business, we all head out to celebrate Christmas with Zanya and her kids. And when we get home, I can give her her present.
No Christmas, after Ouma passed away, has ever been this perfect.