The credit card payments.
The travel expenses.
The forged expense explanations.
The emails.
The airport incident.
Everything.
When the trustee finished, he asked Grandma if she wished to speak.
She stood slowly.
She looked at my father.
For a moment, I thought she might cry.
Instead, she said,
“Richard, I don’t want your apology.”
Dad lowered his head.
“I don’t want you to tell me you were confused.”
He remained silent.
“I don’t want you to tell me you needed the money.”
Still silent.
“I want you to tell me why.”
Dad finally looked at her.
His eyes were wet.
“Because I thought you would always forgive me.”
Grandma stared at him.
He continued.
“You always did.”
She nodded slowly.
“That was my mistake.”
Dad’s face crumpled.
“Mom…”
She raised her hand.
“No.”
He stopped.
“You don’t get to call me Mom when you want forgiveness and treat me like an account number when you want money.”
