Family Finances, Family Lies

tly at my brother. "I'm the one who's been paying for Mom's house, her food,

dignation. "Because you're hoarding the re

ight. It's Mom's money. It should be split down t

r a car anymore. They were laying claim to half of my mother's entir

n us. She wrung her hands, a gesture of peak anxiety. "Ok

e Leo two thousand five hundred? Half of what

etely detached from reality. There wasn't two thousand five hundred dollars to give. And even

f it were a legitimate business negotiation. "Fine," he said. "I'll take twenty-five hund

it only be twenty-five hundred? That's not fair to Leo! Sarah gets to live in her nice place with her n

r son, her daughter-in-law, and me. For the first time, she seemed to have no easy answer, no placating words to smooth things over. She was silent,

ted logic gave me a strange sense of clarity. I sa

gh. "You want to talk about fai

rite you a check for five thousand dollars r

d at me, shock

will sign it, agreeing to pay me back in full within one year. With interest. Because that's what a real loa

a loan. They wanted a handout. And they certainly didn't want any legal documents or personal accountability. They just wanted the money