Chapter 10: Reclaiming the Name Joy

Claire's phone rang the second she stepped off the platform. Zoe.

"It's right next to my building, second floor, so your grandpa won't have to deal with stairs. The landlord just listed it's brand new on the market."

"It's an older complex, but it's converted military housing, so security's solid. There's a park right across the street perfect for walks, for chess, all of it."

Something warm settled in Claire's chest. It sounded made for him.

"There's a young couple looking at it right now, seem pretty into it. You need to move."

"Can you stall the landlord? I'm grabbing a cab fifteen minutes, tops."

She hung up and ran, suitcase rattling behind her, flagging down a taxi. "Sunnyside Court, please, fast as you can."

She arrived still catching her breath.

The unit wasn't newly renovated, but it was clean, well-lit, good airflow.

The young couple stood near the landlady. "Ma'am, we really do love it any chance on the price?"

"Sorry, dear, that's already rock bottom. Wouldn't even be renting it if my son wasn't dragging us off to Australia," the landlady said, shaking her head.

Zoe grabbed Claire's arm and turned to the landlady. "This is my friend works as an executive assistant at Cross Enterprises, steady job, spotless record. She's renting this for her grandfather. He's a veteran too."

The landlady's eyes brightened as she looked Claire over.

"Fine by me. But I'm upfront about it one month deposit, three months rent in advance. No negotiating."

Claire did the math fast: deposit plus three months came to nearly two thousand dollars.

Her account was empty.

"Um ma'am," she said, voice going dry, "would one month deposit and one month rent work for now? I can cover the rest the moment I'm paid next month."

The landlady's brow creased. The young couple jumped in immediately. "We'll take it at full price, ma'am."

Just as Claire was steeling herself to ask Zoe for a loan

Ping payment received, $2,000.

Zoe held up her phone, screen showing the confirmed transfer.

"Ma'am, it's paid in full. Let's sign."

The landlady beamed. "I'll get the paperwork."

"What are you staring at me for?" Zoe pressed the keys into Claire's hand.

"Zoe..." Claire's fingers closed around the keys, still warm from Zoe's palm, eyes stinging. "I could've paid you back next month"

"You will, whenever. No rush. Just remember a good apartment's like a good man. See one you like, you move fast. Hesitate for a second and it's gone, and then you're stuck crying about it."

Claire nodded hard, throat tight.

Her own family might have been a disaster, but somewhere along the way, life had made it up to her a grandfather who loved her fiercely, and friends like this.

Two weeks later.

Claire walked out of the records office clutching a brand-new ID card.

She sank onto a nearby bench, and Megan, who'd been waiting, hurried over and plucked the card from her hand, reading the name printed on it aloud.

"Joy Bennett."

Megan's eyebrows shot up. "Your grandfather picked this?"

Claire nodded, eyes glassy as she stared at the name.

"Yes. He said contentment is happiness. He wanted me to live clear-headed and free."

"So why'd you end up as Claire?"

A flicker of bitterness crossed Claire's face.

"The day my birth was registered, Gary walked past a fortune teller's booth. The man told him I was destined for wealth and status."

She paused, mouth curving into something sharp.

"So he picked 'Claire' meant to keep me small, unassuming. Something modest, so the fortune wouldn't slip away from the family. Like keeping money in shallow, still water instead of letting it flow anywhere."

"Ugh that's disgusting, all that superstitious nonsense, just an excuse for bad luck." Megan's face twisted in disgust. "You should've cut them off years ago. They didn't raise you. You owed them nothing."

"Mm." Claire exhaled slowly. "I moved my registration out back in college. Now that I've changed the name too, Gary can search every database in the country there's no one named 'Claire Bennett' left to find."

From today on, there was no more Claire.

Only Joy.

"I'm heading to the bank tomorrow to update everything. Will that mess with payroll?"

"Don't stress." Megan handed the card back and squeezed her shoulder. "Get me your new account info and a copy of the ID before the end of the month, and it's a half-day fix on my end. Won't touch your paycheck at all."

"Thank you." The words came out heavier than Joy meant them to.

Megan just smiled, quietly touched by how seriously she meant it.

She was the one who ran HR at Cross Enterprises and years ago, she'd taken a real risk pulling Claire's discarded résumé out of the reject pile and slipping it back into the finalist stack.

Out of a room full of polished résumés overseas degrees, top-tier grads Nathaniel had picked her without a second glance at anyone else.

Everything Joy had now the job, the paycheck, the life was equal parts grit, talent, and luck.

"Come on, lunch break's almost over." Claire no, Joy now checked the time, tucked her ID away, and looped her arm through Megan's. "Burgers on me. And once I'm paid next month, I'm doing a proper housewarming big dinner, my treat."

Megan didn't argue, just held on and let herself be steered toward the fast food place.

"Double Angus burger for me. Extra thick."

"You got it," Joy said, smiling.

They found a corner booth. Megan tore into her wrapper immediately, the smell of caramelized beef and melted cheese rolling out.

"Mmm smells incredible." Megan inhaled deep, pure bliss on her face.

Joy's expression, though, changed instantly.

What should have smelled rich and savory hit her instead like rancid oil layered over something raw and fishy, the smell slamming straight to the back of her skull.

Her stomach lurched.

"ugh"

She shoved her chair back, clapped a hand over her mouth, and bolted for the restroom, face drained of color.

"Joy?!"

Megan startled, dropped everything, and ran after her.

In the bathroom, Joy leaned hard against the sink, gagging.

Nothing came up but acid. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes, trembling there, refusing to fall.