Chapter 6 - The Account My Mother Controlled
The first withdrawal was $9,800.
Description:
EDUCATIONAL EXPENSE.
The second:
$14,200.
PRIVATE TUITION.
The third:
$7,500.
ART PROGRAM / EQUIPMENT.
Emma had never attended a $7,500 art program.
I knew every camp.
Every after school class.
Every supply purchase.
The $14,200 was worse.
Emma attended public school.
“Whose tuition?” I asked.
Laura already knew.
The bank transfer ended at St. Catherine Preparatory.
Tyler’s school.
I stared.
“No.”
Rachel and Derek had moved Tyler to private school after bullying issues.
Mom told me they “made sacrifices.”
Apparently Emma had made some.
More transfers followed.
$18,000 to an account ending in numbers connected to Rachel’s boutique.
$6,200 to a pediatric enrichment service that did not exist under state business records.
Several smaller checks.
Total questionable withdrawals:
Approximately $58,000.
Laura looked at me.
“This needs a formal accounting.”
“My mother stole from Emma.”
“We need establish authorization and purpose before using criminal language.”
“She paid Tyler’s tuition.”
“Yes.”
“That is not for Emma.”
“No.”
I called Dad.
He did not answer.
I called again.
Finally:
“Claire.”
“Did you know?”
Silence.
That was answer.
“How much?”
“I don’t know.”
“Dad.”
“I knew your mother borrowed some.”
Borrowed.
From a child.
“How much?”
“She said twenty.”
“It is almost sixty.”
He stopped breathing.
“What?”
“She used Emma’s money for Tyler. Rachel’s boutique. Fake education expenses.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know that much.”
“How much did you know?”
“Some tuition.”
My hand shook.
“And you said nothing.”
“I thought she would put it back.”
“With what?”
“She said Rachel would repay.”
“Did Rachel?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you?”
Silence.
Then:
“I tried.”
That stopped me.
“What?”
“I started putting five hundred a month into another savings account.”
“For Emma?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“About seven thousand.”
“Why not tell me?”
“Because then you’d know.”
I laughed.
A terrible sound.
“That was the point.”
Dad started crying.
I did not comfort him.
Then Laura’s assistant entered with another statement.
One withdrawal request included an electronic authorization.
Parent acknowledgment:
CLAIRE CARTER.
My name.
May you like
My signature.
I had never signed it.
