Chapter 6 - THE $180,000 WAS NOT THE BIGGEST LIE
The investigation uncovered one more thing.
Patricia had told Grandma I planned to sell Evan’s car and move to Arizona.
Why?
To explain why Grandma should not visit.
She told my mother I blamed Grandma for “trying to control me.”
Why?
To explain why Denise should not encourage contact.
She told me Grandma was overwhelmed with health problems and did not want “financial drama.”
Why?
To keep me from calling.
Patricia created three different versions of me for three different audiences.
The poor grieving widow.
The proud granddaughter.
The unstable niece.
Whichever version kept people apart.
Money was the motive.
Distance was the method.
That realization changed how I saw every family gathering I had skipped.
I had thought nobody wanted me.
In reality, people had been told I wanted distance.
Emily cried when she heard.
“I thought you hated all of us.”
“I thought you forgot about me.”
We both laughed then.
Because the tragedy was too stupid not to.
A family full of phones.
Email.
Cars.
May you like
Planes.
And nobody asked the person at the center of the crisis what she actually wanted.
