Chapter 8 - THE ACCOUNT IN EMMA'S NAMEThe account contained nearly forty-eight thousand dollars.
At least, it was supposed to.
By the time our attorney investigated, only $11,316 remained.
The withdrawals had been labeled educational expenses.
Emma was six months old.
There had been no educational expenses.
The money had gone toward Lauren's rent.
Credit-card bills.
A vacation.
And something worse.
A legal retainer.
I confronted Mom.
"Did you take money from Emma's account?"
"It wasn't like that."
"Yes or no."
Silence.
Then:
"Lauren was in trouble."
I closed my eyes.
"So yes."
"I intended to replace every dollar."
"With what?"
Mom's voice sharpened.
"Do you care more about money than family?"
I laughed once.
"You stole from a baby to rescue the adult who hit her."
"Don't use that word."
"Which one? Stole? Baby? Hit?"
She started crying.
Then she said:
"You don't understand what Lauren has been going through."
"I understand exactly what Emma went through."
I hung up.
Then our attorney called.
"There is another withdrawal."
"For what?"
"A family-law attorney."
James and I looked at each other.
The payment had been made three weeks before Christmas.
Before the slap.
Before the accusations.
May you like
Before the protective order.
Someone had been preparing for war.
Related Stories
