Chapter 7 - Vanessa Became Trustee and the Questions Changed
When Vanessa officially replaced our mother as family co-trustee, the tone of Lucy’s distributions changed.
Previously:
receipts,
doctor recommendation,
approval.
Then Vanessa began asking:
“Is this necessary?”
About:
wheelchair repairs.
“Could Mark cover half?”
About:
adaptive recreation.
“Why this vehicle?”
About:
the van modification.
Financial oversight is appropriate.
Trustees are supposed to:
ask questions.
The independent trustee did too.
The difference was:
Vanessa’s language.
In one email she wrote:
At some point we have to distinguish medical necessity from Mark giving Lucy a premium lifestyle because he feels guilty.
I called her.
“What guilt?”
“Emily.”
My entire body tightened.
“What about her?”
“You couldn’t save your wife, so you overcompensate with Lucy.”
I hung up.
That should have triggered:
formal review
of Vanessa’s suitability as family trustee.
Instead I told myself:
she said something cruel during an argument.
Family.
Again.
May you like
That was clue two.
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