Chapter 2 - The AttorneyGrandma called her attorney before I could object. Desmond Whitfield arrived less than an hour afterward. He examined the transfers, then requested my identification and Social Security number. "I need to confirm something."
Grandma paced behind his chair. "She told me Renee was overwhelmed and preferred having the money managed through her."
"Who told you that?" I asked.
Grandma looked embarrassed. "My daughter. Your mother."
My stomach tightened. Mom had told me exactly the opposite. After I married Marcus, she said Grandma was furious that I had "thrown away my future" and no longer wanted anything to do with me. Every birthday card disappeared. Every phone call seemed unanswered. At least, that was what I believed.
Grandma opened one of her drawers. Inside were copies of letters she had mailed to me. Dozens of them. I had never received one.
Desmond eventually looked up from his laptop. "This goes beyond missing transfers." He had discovered a savings account opened four years earlier under my name. My mother, Deirdre, was listed as joint owner. More than $144,000 had moved through it. Most of that money was gone. Some had gone toward my parents' mortgage. Some had covered credit card payments.
Then I noticed payments made to Marcus. My husband. I leaned toward the screen. "What are those?"
Desmond's expression became serious. Monthly transfers. Two thousand dollars. Sometimes even more. From the account my mother controlled directly into Marcus's personal account.
Grandma whispered, "Your husband knew?"
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I felt nauseated. Marcus had spent years insisting we had almost nothing. He controlled every dollar. He claimed my maternity leave had nearly destroyed our finances. He canceled my credit card after Naomi was born and gave me forty dollars each week for groceries. Whenever I questioned him, he would say, "Your own family doesn't even care enough to help you."
All while he was quietly receiving their money.
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