Chapter 6 - My Money Paid for Her Wedding
“How much?” I asked.
Dad tried to avoid the number.
I kept asking.
“Thirty-eight thousand,” he finally said.
Thirty-eight thousand dollars from my trust had helped pay for Jessica’s wedding.
The ballroom. Flowers. Open bar. Photographer.
A wedding where Mom complained that my bridesmaid dress was too expensive for me.
“Did you replace it?”
“No.”
Rachel filed a demand for a full accounting.
The records were worse than Dad admitted.
Grandma had left $100,000 each to Jessica and me.
Jessica legally accessed hers after twenty-five.
My parents withdrew money from mine without telling me: Jessica’s wedding, part of her down payment, and Mom’s credit cards.
Only a fraction remained.
Mom appeared at my door that night.
“You contacted a lawyer?”
“You took money Grandma left me.”
“We redistributed family resources.”
I laughed in disbelief. “That is an impressive way to say stole.”
“Don’t use that word.”
“Why? Because it sounds ugly?”
“Jessica needed help. You were doing fine.”
That sentence hurt more than I expected.
Because I survived without help, I deserved less.
“You punished me for being independent.”
“We raised you.”
“You don’t get to invoice me for childhood.”
Behind me, Emma appeared in the hallway.
Mom instantly opened her arms. “Come give Grandma a hug.”
Emma looked at me first.
Then at Mom.
“No.”
Mom froze.
“You made me feel like nobody wanted me,” Emma said. “And Mommy says I don’t have to hug people when I don’t want to.”
She walked upstairs.
Mom stared after her, stunned.
Then her phone rang.
She checked the screen and went pale.
May you like
I saw the caller name.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN ACCOUNT SECURITY.
