Chapter 4 - Daniel Had Been Supporting His Mother More Than I Knew
Three weeks after Daniel’s funeral, I found:
the transfers.
I was sitting at my sister Amanda’s kitchen table at 2:11 in the morning because Grace had fallen asleep after nursing and I could not.
My attorney had asked for:
financial statements.
Daniel and I had joint checking.
Joint savings.
Separate retirement accounts.
Nothing complicated.
Then I noticed a repeating electronic transfer.
V WALKER
$1,250.
Every month.
For:
thirty-one months.
I stared.
I knew Daniel helped:
his mother.
I thought:
$300 here,
electric repair,
property tax once.
Not almost:
$39,000
over two and a half years.
Then other payments.
$7,800 HVAC replacement.
$3,400 medical deductible.
$9,600 toward a home-equity balance.
Altogether, over four years:
more than $70,000.
Did that financially endanger:
us?
No.
Daniel earned well.
We still saved.
But he had concealed:
the scale.
Why?
Because we had argued once about:
Vivian.
I told him:
“Helping is fine.”
“Being her retirement plan isn’t.”
He said:
“I know.”
Then apparently continued quietly.
I was angry at:
Daniel.
Then immediately guilty because he was:
dead.
Grief does strange things to anger when the other person can no longer:
answer.
Vivian knew about:
the support.
Of course.
And after Daniel died, she assumed it would:
continue.
May you like
Through me.
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