Chapter 6 - Mom Arrives Without The Cat
My mother arrived at the hospital that evening.
The cat was not with her.
A neighbor had taken it.
Apparently that solution had always existed.
Valerie entered angry.
Not ashamed.
“Your grandfather had no right going through our finances.”
Grandpa stood.
“I went through records Raymond gave me.”
Mom looked at Dad.
He had arrived behind her.
For the first time, my father did not hide behind silence.
“Tell her.”
Mom folded her arms.
“I managed family resources.”
I almost laughed.
“Whose resources?”
She looked at me.
“You had more.”
There it was.
Not denial.
Entitlement.
Mom argued that I had voluntarily helped.
True.
She said she used the money where the family needed it most.
That was not what I had agreed to.
I had agreed to mortgage support.
Medical costs.
Household help.
A temporary loan for Kendra.
I had not agreed to buy Kendra property or fund investments.
Mom said:
“If I told you every detail, you would have started saying no.”
I stared at her.
May you like
“That is what consent is.”
The room went quiet.
