This time she sounded tired instead of angry.
“Your father wants a family meeting.”
I almost refused.
Then she added, “Your aunt is here.”
That interested me.
Apparently the retirement-party witnesses were no longer willing to stay silent.
I agreed to a video call.
Dad sat at the dining-room table when the screen connected.
Mom was beside him.
Jason stood behind them with his arms folded.
My aunt sat at the far end.
Dad began immediately.
“This has gone far enough.”
I opened the folder again.
“No, I think this has gone exactly far enough.”
He pointed toward the camera.
“You made your point.
Turn the accounts back on.”
My aunt looked at him.
“Frank, they’re her accounts.”
He frowned.
“This is family business.”
“She is family.”
He ignored that.
“Allison, your mother has medical expenses.
The house has taxes.
Jason needs transportation.
You know all of this.”
“Yes.”
“And you’re choosing to walk away.”
“No.
I’m choosing to stop pretending that supporting everyone financially is the price of having a relationship with you.”
Jason rolled his eyes.
Dad saw it and seemed encouraged.
“Here comes the speech.”
I didn’t give him one.
I held up the first page of the folder instead.
“I totaled it.”
That changed the room.
Mom looked at Dad.
Jason stopped smirking.
Dad said, “Totaled what?”
“Everything I could document from the last several years that I paid for this household or for Jason.”
I read the categories, not every transaction.
Property taxes.
Truck.
Medical bills.
Emergency transfers.
Card charges.
Repairs.
I gave them the total.
Mom covered her mouth.
Jason said, “That can’t be right.”
“It is.”
Dad stared at the screen.
“You’re counting gifts?”
