The next day, I asked the hospital social worker, « Has Lisa tried to get custody of Walter? »
« She’s asked about temporary guardianship. »
« Already? »
« Yes. »
« She has consulted about it, » the woman explained carefully. « Your medical condition raised questions about Walter’s immediate care. »
« What questions? »
« Whether you would be physically capable of resuming full responsibility. »
« Because of the crash? »
« Among other things. »
« My eyesight. »
She paused. « That was mentioned. »
Of course it was.
When Walter returned that afternoon, I asked, « Did you see Aunt Lisa near my glasses that morning? »
He frowned. « Maybe. »
« Maybe? »
« She was near your purse. I think she had something in her hand. »
« What? »
He shrugged. « I don’t know. I wasn’t really watching. »
Not proof. But enough to make me wonder.
So I waited until I was discharged.
Lisa offered to drive me home.
I declined and called a cab.
At home, Walter helped me search one last time. « You once put your phone in the freezer. »
« Once. »
« Twice. »
« Traitor. »
Then I remembered the camera by the front door.
That morning, my purse had been directly in its view.
We went back to the morning of the crash.
Walter leaned closer. « Oh, there she comes. »
« Shh. »
He leaned closer. « She’s opening your purse. »
« I see it. »
« Granny… that’s your glasses case. »
We watched Lisa slip it into her handbag.
My stomach turned.
For years, I’d mistaken refusing to see the worst in Lisa for loving her.
I couldn’t anymore.
Walter whispered, « Why would she do that? »
« I don’t know. »
« Because she wants me? »
I looked at him. « She’s wanted you for four years. »
« Why? »
That was the question.
Before confronting Lisa, I went through Daniel’s papers.
Insurance.
Taxes.
Medical bills.
Then I found what I was looking for.
I read the first page three times.
« Granny? »
I turned the papers facedown.
« You okay? »
« I think I just figured something out. »
« About Aunt Lisa? »
« Yes. »
« What? »
« Something I should’ve seen years ago. »
« What is that? »
« I’ll explain when you’re older. »
He narrowed his eyes. « That’s exactly what Aunt Lisa says when she doesn’t want to answer me. »
« Please don’t compare me to your aunt today. »
After he left, four years of Lisa’s behavior suddenly made sense.
I’d been asking the wrong question all along.
Something about Lisa’s interest in Walter finally felt different. I needed to hear the rest from her.
So I called her. « Could you come over? »
She sounded surprised. « Are you okay? »
« I need help with some paperwork. »
« What paperwork? »
« For Walter. »
« Of course. I’ll be there tonight. »
That reaction told me almost as much as the documents had.
And just like that, she’d made the next move for me.
Lisa arrived at seven.
Walter was upstairs.
I sat at the kitchen table wearing my new glasses.
She noticed them immediately. « New pair? »
« Yes. »
« Good. Maybe no driving for a while, though. »
I smiled. « Funny you should mention driving. »
She stopped removing her coat. « What? »
« Why did you take my glasses? »
Her expression went blank. « I didn’t. »
« I have a video. »
The color drained from her face. « Video of what? »
« You opening my purse and putting my glasses case into your bag. »
Lisa stared at me.
Then she sat down. « Mom… »
« Why? »
« It wasn’t what you think. »
« Then tell me what it was. »
I thought I knew where this conversation was going. I was wrong.
« I was worried about you. »
« So you stole the glasses I needed to drive? »
« You shouldn’t have been driving anyway! »
« Then why did you tell me to use the old pair? »
Silence.
I leaned forward. « Why were you preparing guardianship papers while I was unconscious? »
« Because somebody had to think about Walter! »
« I was alive. »
« You were in a coma. »
« For eleven days, Lisa. Not eleven years. »
Her jaw tightened.
I continued. « And why did you want him four years ago? »
« He’s my nephew. »
« Try again. »
« What do you want me to say? »
« The truth. »
« I loved my brother. »
« So did I. »
« He trusted me. »
That sentence caught my attention. « Did he? »
Lisa looked away.
I pulled the folder onto the table.
She saw the attorney’s letterhead.
Her face changed.
« Recognize it? »
Lisa said nothing.
« You knew what Daniel had arranged, didn’t you? »
Her eyes dropped to the folder.
That was answer enough.
I opened it. « When your brother died, he left a trust for Walter. »
Lisa closed her eyes.
« Daniel told you about the trust. »
Lisa looked away.
« Didn’t he? »
« Shortly before he died. »
« But he never told me. »
« Apparently not. »
« And you knew whoever cared for Walter could request money for his expenses. »
« With oversight. »
« And that’s why you wanted guardianship. »
« It’s not that simple. »
« Then make it complicated. »
« I needed money, Mom. » She started crying.
« For what? »
« My business was falling apart. » She wiped at her face. « Before Daniel died, he told me about Walter’s trust. I’d already asked you for help, and you said no. »
« So? »
Her voice broke. « So I thought the trust could save my business. »
I stared at her. « And all you needed was Walter. »
She started sobbing harder. « I was desperate. I wasn’t going to steal it! »
« What were you going to do? »
« Manage it. »
« For yourself? »
« I would’ve put it back. »
I laughed once because I genuinely couldn’t believe what I was hearing. « Of course. »
« He’s nine! What does a nine-year-old need that kind of money for? » she snapped. « It was just sitting there! »
« It’s his. »
« I know that! »
« Apparently you don’t. »
She went silent.
I let those words sit between us.
But the worst part of her confession was still coming.
« And now? »
Her silence answered me.
« You saw my accident as another chance. »
« Mom… »
« Another chance to get Walter. And another chance to get near his money. »
Lisa’s eyes filled with tears. « I never thought you’d actually drive that far. »
« You told me to use the old pair. »
« I thought you’d get behind the wheel and realize you couldn’t see properly. That you’d turn around, call me, miss the appointment – anything. »
« And then what? »
« I’d have proof. »
« Proof of what? »
« That you weren’t safe anymore. » Her voice cracked. « That your eyesight was getting worse. That you couldn’t keep taking care of Walter alone. »
« So you took my glasses to make me look incapable. »
« I needed something people couldn’t dismiss. »
« And instead, I nearly died. »
« I didn’t know you’d crash. »
« But you knew I couldn’t see. »
She had no answer.
« So this was never about keeping me safe. »
« It was about Walter. »
« And the trust, » I said.
« I would’ve taken care of him. »
« That isn’t the same as wanting him. »
« Mom… »
« Leave. »
« Please. »
« Leave. »
« What about Walter? »
« For once, don’t put his name next to something you want. »
Walter had been listening from behind the wall.
The moment Lisa left, he ran to me. « Is she coming back? »
« Not tonight. »
He hesitated. « So… am I still going to live with you? »
My chest tightened. « You’re not getting rid of me that easily. »
He wrapped his arms around me.
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