My mother-in-law decided my 9-year-old daughter should give her $1,600 MacBook to her cousin as a “gift,” then told her, “If you don’t know how to share, then maybe you shouldn’t call me Grandma anymore.”

I got up and followed the sound down the hallway. Emma’s door was slightly open, a strip of light spilling out.

I pushed it open—and froze.

She was sitting on the floor in her pajamas, surrounded by wrapping paper and ribbon.

And in front of her… was her MacBook.

Not the box.

The actual laptop.

“Emma,” I said slowly, crouching beside her. “Why are you wrapping your computer?”

Her lip trembled.

“I’m giving it to Lucas,” she whispered.

My mind struggled to catch up. “You’re… giving it away?”

She nodded, wiping her cheeks. “It’s not fair that I have it and he doesn’t. I don’t want to be spoiled. I don’t want to be bad.”

That wasn’t her voice.

That was something someone had put inside her.

“Who told you that?” I asked gently.

Emma hesitated, scared even to answer.

Then she whispered, “Grandma Patricia.”

My stomach dropped.

“And Grandpa George was there,” she added quickly.

I swallowed. “What exactly did she say?”

Emma stared at the ribbon in her hands.

“She said a good granddaughter shares… and if I don’t… maybe I shouldn’t call her Grandma anymore.”

Behind me, I heard a floorboard creak.

Daniel stood in the doorway, half-awake—until he heard that.

Then he was wide awake.