Chapter 3 - THE QUESTION MARIBEL DIDN’T WANT ASKED
Maribel followed Rowan into the foyer.
“You are delaying a sale because I hurt your feelings?”
“No.”
“Then what is this?”
“A release saying I received records I haven’t received.”
“The records exist.”
“Great. Send them.”
Maribel folded her arms.
“You have no idea how much work I did for Grandma.”
“I’m not questioning that.”
“You just did.”
“No. I questioned a document.”
To Maribel, there had never been much difference.
People either trusted her or attacked her.
Stellan came into the foyer.
“Mom, just send the records.”
She turned.
“Stay out of this.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t know anything about estate administration.”
Rowan almost smiled.
For once, Maribel was correct.
Stellan looked at Rowan.
“Do you?”
“Enough to know I shouldn’t sign something inaccurate.”
Maribel’s face hardened.
“You’ve always thought you were smarter than everyone.”
Rowan looked at her.
“You spent dinner saying I was insignificant.”
“That doesn’t mean stupid.”
“Progress.”
Stellan coughed to hide a laugh.
Maribel did not appreciate it.
The next morning Rowan emailed a short request.
Bank statements.
Estate account records.
Receipts for major expenses.
Caregiving reimbursements.
Property-maintenance costs.
Prior annual summaries prepared while June was alive.
Nothing exotic.
No accusation.
Maribel responded:
**All beneficiaries have already been adequately informed. Your sudden hostility appears retaliatory after last night’s family disagreement.**
Rowan read the email twice.
Then forwarded it to her attorney.
She had not hired an estate lawyer because she suspected theft.
She hired one because Maribel had asked her to sign a release.
Her attorney, Cynthia Hale, read the documents.
“Do not sign.”
“I assumed.”
“This release is broader than necessary for closing.”
“Why?”
“Maybe the buyer’s lawyer asked for clean beneficiary acknowledgments. Maybe Maribel’s counsel drafted conservatively. Maybe somebody wants finality.”
“Finality from what?”
“We don’t know.”
Cynthia requested the accounting formally.
That irritated the family.
Peter called from Arizona.
“Did you really hire a lawyer over this?”
“I hired a lawyer to read legal paperwork.”
“Maribel says you’re trying to accuse her of stealing.”
“I haven’t accused her of anything.”
“She says you demanded bank records.”
“She managed Grandma’s money.”
“Rowan.”
“What?”
“She took care of that woman for three years.”
Rowan closed her eyes.
There was the moral ledger.
Caregiving meant gratitude.
Gratitude meant fewer questions.
Questions meant ingratitude.
“I know what she did.”
“Do you?”
The question hurt because the answer was not completely yes.
Rowan visited June when she could.
Called.
Paid for things.
Managed several insurance disputes remotely.
But Maribel was the one physically present.
Doctor visits.
Medication.
Late-night falls.
Groceries.
Bathing help before outside aides were hired.
Rowan knew that.
She also knew caregiving did not make financial records optional.
Three days later Cynthia received the estate accounting.
Rowan opened it at her kitchen table.
Most expenses looked ordinary.
Property tax.
Home repairs.
Home-health aides.
Medical equipment.
Utilities.
Then one vendor began repeating.
VANCE COASTAL SERVICES.
Roof repair.
Accessibility modification.
Transportation coordination.
Property management.
Emergency household labor.
Two years.
$146,800.
Rowan stared.
Vance was Maribel’s married surname.
She called Cynthia.
“Who owns Vance Coastal Services?”
They checked.
Maribel’s husband, Richard.
Rowan sat back.
Related-party payments were not automatically improper.
The work could be real.
The prices could be fair.
Everything might be fine.
Then she saw one invoice.
$18,400 for accessibility renovations at June’s residence.
May you like
Rowan knew that address.
The work had not been done at June’s lake house.
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