Chapter 8 - Vanessa Was Trying To Prove Mom Couldn’t Manage Her Own Trust
Money appeared three days later.
It usually does in families where control is disguised as concern.
Mom held a substantial family trust established by my late grandmother.
The trust paid her income for life.
Mom also retained limited authority to approve distributions for certain family purposes.
If she became medically incapacitated, that authority would shift.
First to Daniel.
Then, under a proposed amendment Daniel had discussed with Vanessa, to a joint household committee that could include Vanessa.
That amendment had never been signed.
But Vanessa had been pushing for it.
I remembered her saying:
“Margaret shouldn’t have to deal with complicated financial decisions anymore.”
At the time, it sounded compassionate.
Now it sounded strategic.
If Mom could be documented as increasingly confused, agitated, noncompliant with medication, and incapable of managing appointments, the argument for diminished capacity became stronger.
The altered medication helped create exactly those symptoms.
Sleepiness.
Forgetfulness.
Dizziness.
Emotional volatility.
Vanessa was not trying to kill Mom.
That distinction mattered.
She was trying to make Mom look less competent than she really was.
Then use that manufactured decline to increase her own influence over family money.
The violence in the sunroom happened because Mom had found something.
Not cash.
Not jewelry.
Records.
Copies of medication logs showing changes that had never been ordered exactly as written.
Mom had told Vanessa:
“I’m showing Daniel tonight.”
May you like
That was when Vanessa exploded.
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