Chapter 8: The Birthday Party Was Only the Beginning
Monday morning, I woke up to seventeen missed calls.
Eleven were from Linda.
Four were from Katie.
Two were from numbers I didn't recognize.
I didn't answer any of them.
Instead, I forwarded Martin's documents to the bank's fraud investigator and requested a formal review of every signature and authorization connected to Sienna's account.
Then I called an attorney.
Her name was Rachel Collins.
A colleague had recommended her several years earlier when Ben and I purchased our house.
I explained the situation.
She listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she asked one question.
"Was the education account opened exclusively for your daughter?""
"Yes.""
"Do you have the original account-opening documents?""
"I believe so.""
"Good. Bring those, the disputed authorization, the transfer records, and every message you've received. Don't confront anyone else until we've reviewed the paperwork.""
I agreed.
At noon, Ben drove me to Rachel's office.
She examined the documents carefully.
The room was quiet except for the sound of pages turning.
Finally, she placed the disputed agreement on her desk.
"This signature needs to be independently examined.""
"Can you tell if it's forged?""
"Not conclusively from a photocopy. But I can tell you that the authorization deserves serious scrutiny.""
She looked at the transfer history.
"Has the bank confirmed that the $38,000 withdrawal was blocked?""
"Yes.""
"And the $91,600 scheduled transfer?""
"Also blocked under the temporary restriction.""
Rachel nodded.
"That's important. Preserve every communication. Don't delete messages, even if they seem irrelevant.""
She paused.
"There's another issue. If your mother used your identity or your daughter's account without proper authorization, this may extend beyond a private family disagreement.""
I nodded.
"I understand.""
"Also, don't transfer the money somewhere else just because you're frightened. Let the bank secure it and follow the formal process.""
I agreed.
Before we left, Rachel asked me to describe the circumstances under which Linda had helped with the hospital paperwork.
I told her everything.
When I finished, she leaned back.
"Did your mother have access to your personal identification documents?""
"Yes. She had copies of some paperwork because she helped us with family administration.""
"Do you know whether she kept them?""
I shook my head.
Rachel made a note.
"That will need to be investigated.""
On the drive home, I felt exhausted.
Ben reached over and held my hand.
"At least we're moving in the right direction.""
I nodded.
But I wasn't prepared for what happened when we arrived.
A black SUV was parked outside our house.
Katie was standing beside it.
Her arms were crossed.
The moment I stepped out of the car, she approached me.
"We need to talk.""
I looked at Ben.
He moved beside me.
"About what?""
Katie gestured toward the house.
"Privately.""
"No.""
She rolled her eyes.
"God, Nora. Can you stop acting like I'm some criminal?""
I stared at her.
"Did you sign the restructuring agreement?""
She looked away.
"Mom said it was paperwork.""
"Did you know the money came from Sienna's account?""
"She said it was family money.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Katie's face reddened.
"Look, I have three kids. You have one. Mom thought it made sense to help us.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"So you knew.""
She threw up her hands.
"Do you have any idea how expensive everything is? Elliot needs a better school. Ruby needs braces.
Nico needs childcare. You and Ben have good jobs. You don't understand what it's like to struggle.""
I stared at her.
"You're asking me to feel sorry for you while you're trying to take my daughter's education savings?""
Katie stepped closer.
"That money wasn't doing anything sitting in an account.""
"It was being saved for her future.""
"She can get a scholarship!""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Ben spoke before I could.
"Leave.""
Katie ignored him.
"You know what? Mom was right about one thing. You've always thought you were better than us because you married well and make more money.""
I stared at her.
"I paid your mother's mortgage for four years. I paid her utilities. I paid for the birthday party you're standing here defending. When did I ever make you feel inferior?""
Katie opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
I continued.
"You accepted help from our mother while she used money I saved for Sienna. And now you're angry because I won't let you have it.""
Katie's eyes filled with tears.
But they weren't tears of remorse.
They were tears of frustration.
"Mom promised me that money.""
I went still.
"What?""
Katie looked down.
Then she whispered, "She said it was my inheritance.""
"Your inheritance?""
"She said Dad had enough retirement savings and that the house would eventually be mine.""
I stared at her.
"Mom promised you Dad's house?""
Katie shrugged.
"Not just the house. She said she'd make sure I was taken care of.""
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
"Does Dad know?""
Katie didn't answer.
Then she turned toward her SUV.
Before getting inside, she looked back.
"You're going to regret turning everyone against Mom.""
She drove away.
Ben watched the vehicle disappear.
"She just admitted knowing about the money.""
I nodded.
I was about to go inside when a delivery truck stopped across the street.
The driver approached with a large envelope.
"Are you Nora Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"Signature required.""
I signed.
The envelope was from Linda.
Inside was a typed letter.
I unfolded it.
Nora,
Your behavior has become unacceptable. You have humiliated me publicly, disrupted my financial arrangements, and encouraged your father to question decisions he has trusted me to make for decades.
You have always been jealous of the relationship I have with Katie and her children.
If you continue making accusations, I will have no choice but to explain certain things about your own finances and childhood that you would probably prefer to keep private.
You need to think carefully before destroying this family.
Linda.
I read it twice.
Then I handed it to Ben.
He frowned.
"She's threatening you.""
I nodded.
But one sentence bothered me more than the others.
Certain things about your own finances and childhood.
What could she possibly mean?
I had never borrowed money from her.
I had never hidden financial problems.
I had never asked her to sacrifice anything for me.
Then I remembered something.
When I was seventeen, my grandmother had died.
She had left a small inheritance for me.
Mom had told me the money was used for college expenses.
I had never questioned it.
But now, after everything I'd discovered, I wondered whether that was true.
I called Dad.
He answered on the second ring.
"Dad, do you remember Grandma Evelyn's inheritance?""
There was a long silence.
Then he asked:
"Why are you asking about that now?""
"Because Mom sent me a threatening letter.""
He sighed.
"Nora, there's something you should know about that money.""
My heart began pounding.
"What?""
"Your grandmother didn't leave you the amount your mother told you.""
I stopped walking.
"How much did she leave me?""
Dad's answer changed everything.
"Forty-five thousand dollars.""
I closed my eyes.
Mom had told me it was barely enough to cover my first two years of college.
Dad continued.
"Your grandmother wanted that money protected until you turned twenty-one. But Linda withdrew it when you were eighteen.""
I couldn't speak.
"Where did it go?"" I finally whispered.
May you like
Dad lowered his voice.
"That's what I've been trying to find out.""
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