Chapter 5 - Carol Already Had More Access Than I Remembered Giving Her
The envelope was on the kitchen counter.
My investment account statement.
Opened.
I picked it up.
“Carol?”
She was unloading groceries.
“Yes?”
“Did you open this?”
She glanced.
“Oh.”
“It came here.”
“I know.”
“Did you open it?”
“I thought it was one of the insurance things.”
My name was printed:
clearly.
I looked at her.
She became defensive.
“Honestly, Megan, I’ve handled half your paperwork for months.”
That sentence made me pause.
Because:
true.
Six months earlier, at twenty-two weeks pregnant, I had a bleeding scare.
Nothing catastrophic.
A small placental issue that resolved.
But I spent five hours in labor and delivery convinced I was losing:
another future.
Luke was already in Denver.
My father did not answer.
Carol came.
Sat beside me.
Held:
my purse.
Talked to nurses when I cried.
Afterward she said:
“You need someone local authorized to help if something happens.”
Reasonable.
I agreed.
We met with:
my attorney.
Created a durable financial power of attorney.
My lawyer recommended:
limited powers
and:
co-agents or backup.
I was exhausted.
Embarrassed by how frightened I had been.
I said:
“Carol can handle it.”
The document was broader than necessary.
Banking.
Bills.
Insurance.
Routine contractual matters.
It expressly prohibited:
gifts to herself,
self-dealing,
transfers benefiting her household without separate authorization.
Good.
But Carol could:
receive statements,
speak with institutions,
pay ordinary expenses if I was unavailable.
I also changed my mailing address temporarily to:
their house
during apartment repairs.
Some accounts.
Not all.
Then I gave Carol the login to:
my bill-pay account
because I wanted her to pay utilities if I ended up hospitalized.
She had access.
Legally limited.
Practically broad.
At the time it felt:
safe.
Then the statement.
Carol saw:
the balance.
Liquid savings and short-term investments:
just over $246,000.
Suddenly Frank’s $175,000 request had:
a visible source.
I revoked Carol’s online password that afternoon.
Not the formal power of attorney yet.
I planned to call my lawyer Monday.
It was:
Friday.
May you like
That weekend, everything escalated.
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