Chapter 24 - What I Did With The Money
People assumed restitution made me rich.
It did not.
I already owned house with mortgage.
Recovered money mostly repaired what was taken.
Property wear.
Legal costs.
Insurance.
Lost rental value.
Some compensated unauthorized use.
I used part to pay down mortgage.
Not all.
Part emergency fund.
Part rebuilt deck safely.
Part legal.
I did not buy revenge car.
I kept Honda until it died at 214,000 miles.
Keaton laughed when he heard.
“You really drove silver coffin to death.”
I smiled.
“Finally.”
I bought a used Subaru.
No symbolism.
Then work.
I remained nurse.
Eventually shifted from bedside nights to cardiac education and quality improvement at forty five.
Not because family scandal.
Because my knees hurt and nights stopped loving me back.
I still picked clinical shifts sometimes.
Tasha became nurse manager.
She reminded everyone she saved me by telling me go to work Friday.
I denied.
Then house.
Mortgage paid off at forty nine partly with savings, partly restitution recovery, partly regular payments.
Deed still only mine.
Later I created estate plan.
If I died:
House would pass to charitable? Since Arden single, perhaps nephew? Family strained. Maybe she later has partner? Not needed. Could leave to a niece? Better she has no children. She names a trust for nursing scholarship and gives first option to Keaton at appraised value? Too complicated.
Maybe she marries? User only source no. We don't need force romance.
She remained single by choice? Could.
I made will.
Lake house to be sold, proceeds divided between a nursing scholarship and a small trust for nieces/nephews? Keaton maybe no kids. Simpler: Arden leaves to charitable foundation? Hmm.
Not central.
Important is no family automatic claim.
She makes clear estate.
I sent copy of relevant directive to executor, not family.
No secret.
May you like
Then parents.
Mother died? Not yet. We can close in ch25.
