Family Finances, Family Lies

one, and a flood of memories washed over me. It wasn't always

allowance, but his would be gone in a week on candy and

praised my patience. "See, Leo?" she would say. "That's what happ

work and living within your means. She was the one who taught me how to bu

at history to convince me. We were sitting at her kitchen tabl

brother. And I certainly don't trust him not to ask. If you hold the money, you can be objective. You can make

my family's financial well-being. "Mom, I don't know," I'd said. "What i

ause you'll have the statements. It's all about the n

t vision of a fair, logical family structure. I wanted to be the good daughter who helped her widowed m

as shattering. The "fairness" was a lie. The "o

er was still looking at me, waiting for me to

"I will not 'just give him' five thou

able," Chloe scof

. The conversation was over. If we were going to talk about this, it would be on my terms, with every single b