I told my daughter I couldn’t babysit over Memorial Day because I had cataract surgery scheduled, and she texted, “You’re choosing yourself over your grandkids.”

The next afternoon, Caroline left two pharmacy bags with the neighbor and drove away before Margaret reached the window. Inside were the exact drops prescribed after surgery, including the brand insurance would not cover. Caroline should not have known the price; Margaret had never told her. More troubling, she had written the bank's fraud extension on the receipt. When Margaret called, Caroline answered with Hudson crying behind her. "Did Wade tell you the bank froze my accounts?" Margaret asked. "No." Too quick again. "Then how do you know who handles the review?" Caroline said May needed a bottle and ended the call. That evening Wade texted Otis, not Margaret, insisting the loan had paid a family expense. He named none. Wade also asked whether revoking the power of attorney canceled "pending access." Otis read the phrase twice. Margaret opened the green file and saw that Caroline's recent requests had changed. She no longer asked for amounts. She asked how quickly help could arrive.