Chapter 8 - THE DECISION THAT TOOK AWAY THEIR ACCESS
I authorized Marissa to seek a longer protection order and report the suspected trust fraud to law enforcement.
The decision ended any possibility of handling the matter privately.
The trust administrator turned over login records and reimbursement requests. The court appointed an independent guardian ad litem to represent Rosie’s interests. Children Services began separate interviews involving Bethany’s treatment of Mason.
Colin requested temporary primary custody of his son.
Diane blamed me for that too.
“You’ve taken both children from this family,” she said through my aunt’s phone.
“No one has taken Rosie from me.”
“Not yet.”
The threat confirmed that she still believed she could win.
The financial consequences arrived quickly.
Bethany’s mortgage lender moved forward with foreclosure. Diane had placed most of her retirement savings into the house and could not cover the arrears.
Extended relatives began calling.
My aunt said Bethany needed treatment, not punishment.
A cousin asked whether I wanted my mother to become homeless.
No one asked why saving Bethany’s house required hurting Rosie.
At work, I used the last of my paid leave for interviews, court appointments, and therapy sessions. My supervisor warned that more absences could affect my position.
I considered withdrawing the fraud complaint and focusing only on the abuse.
Marissa advised against separating the two.
“The money explains the conduct,” she said. “Without motive, Diane will keep describing this as discipline that went too far.”
I knew she was right.
I still hated what the decision cost.
Colin delivered Bethany’s letter in its original envelope. She had mailed it to his apartment three days before Mason’s birthday party.
His attorney told him to preserve it because the contents related to their custody case.
The letter was eight pages long.
Colin had read only the first two before calling me.
Marissa asked whether I wanted her to review it first.
“No.”
I sat in her office and opened the pages myself.
Bethany began by asking Colin not to use “the situation with Rosie” to take Mason away.
On the third page, she described what Diane had promised.
Temporary placement.
Monthly caregiver reimbursement.
A housing request from the trust.
Enough money to prevent foreclosure.
May you like
Then I reached the sentence that forced me to stop reading.
Mom said Rosie needed marks that Evan couldn’t explain.
