Chapter 9 - The Money Claire Never Knew About
Diane did not call about another rent payment.
She called about five thousand dollars.
In February, after learning indirectly that Claire was sick, Diane had transferred $5,000 to Beatrice.
“For Claire.”
Claire sat very still.
“You gave my mother money?”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
“Whatever you needed. Copays. Food. Transportation.”
“I never saw it.”
Diane closed her eyes.
“I thought you did.”
The transfer memo read:
For Claire treatment expenses.
Beatrice had acknowledged it by text.
Thank you. I’m covering most things, but this helps.
Claire felt something inside her settle.
Not explode.
Settle.
This was no longer merely a mother charging rent.
Beatrice had accepted money specifically intended to support Claire while simultaneously telling Claire that no relatives had offered help.
Leah became more interested.
“That changes things.”
“Can I get it back?”
“Maybe. Diane has the strongest direct claim if the money was given for a stated purpose and not used that way. We still need to know where it went.”
Bank records would require either Beatrice’s cooperation or formal legal process.
Claire did not want a lawsuit simply to punish her.
Diane did.
“I’ll file if I need to.”
“Aunt Diane—”
“No.”
Diane’s voice was firmer than Claire had ever heard it.
“I gave that money because I thought my sister was taking care of you.”
Claire looked away.
“She drove me to treatment twice.”
“That isn’t five thousand dollars.”
The family split quietly.
Nobody made speeches.
People simply stopped asking Beatrice to host Thanksgiving.
Paige removed her from a shared vacation plan.
Diane requested repayment.
Maren refused an invitation to lunch.
Beatrice responded by telling people Claire and Silas were manipulating an “older woman in financial distress.”
That phrase caught Claire’s attention.
Financial distress.
It was the first time Beatrice had admitted publicly that she had any.
Two days later, Leah received a letter from Beatrice’s attorney.
Beatrice claimed the $5,000 had been used for “household and caregiving costs associated with Claire’s stay.”
Included was a handwritten expense list.
Food.
Electricity.
Gas.
Household support.
One line stood out.
Basement preparation — $2,400.
Claire recognized the date.
The basement had already been finished for years.
Beatrice had not renovated anything.
May you like
But Claire remembered exactly what happened that week.
Her mother bought new dining-room furniture.
