Chapter 20 - The Last Restitution Payment
Restitution took years.
Not dramatic.
Monthly payments.
Tax refunds.
Asset application.
Insurance recovery.
The value of Walter’s watch had been reimbursed through a combination of dealer insurance and Denise’s restitution responsibility.
The actual watch never returned.
I accepted.
The sapphire brooch remained with me.
The Social Security diversion was fully restored through repayments and agency adjustments.
Other losses were partly recovered.
Some money was gone forever.
Court eventually marked ordered restitution satisfied.
Denise called.
“I got notice.”
“So did I.”
“What do I say?”
“Nothing required.”
She paused.
“I’m glad.”
“Me too.”
Then Lauren’s restitution.
Satisfied months earlier.
No celebratory dinner.
No “debt paid means crime erased.”
Accounting ended.
Relationship continued separately.
Then I asked them to lunch.
At Rosie’s Corner Diner.
Their faces when I named it were almost funny.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“Why there?”
“Good soup.”
Denise looked sick.
“Can we go somewhere else?”
“No.”
Then I softened.
“If you’re not ready, we can.”
That mattered.
She stared.
Then:
“I’m ready.”
We went.
Maya was no longer working there.
The manager remembered.
Different waitress.
We took a booth.
Not same one.
Denise ordered tea.
Lauren coffee.
I ordered coffee.
They both stared.
“What?”
Denise whispered:
“You don’t have to.”
“I know.”
The waitress placed mug.
I took a sip.
Nothing happened.
Coffee was coffee again.
Then Denise started crying.
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
Lauren wiped eyes.
“This is horrible.”
“What?”
“We’re all crying in a diner.”
I laughed.
Then our meals arrived.
Three plates.
Same time.
Nobody took mine.
Nobody measured.
Then Denise reached for check.
“May I?”
I looked.
“What?”
“Pay.”
“Why?”
“Because I invited myself into your money for years and now I’m asking to buy lunch.”
That was almost too symbolic.
I said:
“Yes.”
She paid.
Twenty seven dollars plus tip.
Her own card.
Then Lauren said:
“Paris cost less emotionally.”
We laughed.
Then outside, I looked at parking lot.
No red Lexus.
Long gone.
Sold by company years earlier.
No tow truck.
No police.
Just cars.
Then I thought of the twelve dollar soup.
Maya had paid when I had no wallet.
That money had already been repaid indirectly? I never reimbursed. Later maybe we can finally resolve. Did I ever reimburse Maya? I avoided due witness. After cases closed, I could. I had offered and she refused. Let's include:
After trial ended, I tried giving Maya twelve dollars. She refused. So I donated $12 monthly to diner’s staff meal fund? Maybe no. Could tell later. Let's do now:
After cases closed, I had once offered Maya the twelve dollars.
She said:
“Keep it. Then you’ll owe me lunch.”
We had lunch. She paid? maybe Eleanor did. Fine.
The original twelve dollars remained a gift.
That bothered me less now.
Some things do not need balancing.
Then Samuel called.
“Eleanor, your annual trust review.”
“Tomorrow.”
“Your daughters with you?”
“Yes.”
“Should I panic?”
“No.”
“Excellent.”
I hung up.
Denise asked:
“What trust review?”
I raised eyebrow.
She laughed.
May you like
“Never mind.”
Progress can be measured in questions not asked.
