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- 12/04/2021
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Timothy - 40. Chapter 40
I spent the evening reviewing my presentation. I had a copy for the judge and an extra copy in case it would be needed. My stomach was a little upset as I thought about what I was going to do. No one should have to do this to a family member. As these thoughts ran through my head, I was looking at a 625 dollar credit card charge for a luncheon on the day of Mr. Struthers’s funeral. I had a credit card charge for a woman’s suit for 900 dollars and a mourning outfit design by one of the top fashion houses for 3200 dollars. Several credit card charges for lunches and dinners amounted to 5100 dollars. These charges were from the most expensive restaurants in the city where she lived. I’m sure she didn’t eat alone. I wonder what the housekeeper and butler did during this time. She can’t have much money left after paying her fare to fly here and taking a cab from the airport. I had checked her bank account when I was checking the accounts before coming here. There were less than 100 dollars in her account.
As I was thinking about how much money she spent. The phone rang. It was Stephen, and they had just arrived home. He wished me luck and blew me a kiss over the phone.
I didn’t sleep well that night. Randy wanted to know if I wanted him to sleep with me since I hadn’t slept alone for several years. We laughed as I threw a pillow at him. That helped to release some of my tension. I fell asleep, but I wasn’t alone. Stephen was in my dreams, along with Donnie.
I woke at 7, my appointment with Judge Howard was at 9. I had plenty of time. I took a shower, and I missed Stephen. I was sure our resident joker would comment about me showering alone, but he didn’t. I dressed in my business suit and went to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. Dad was there, and he hadn’t left for work.
“Dad, I thought you would be gone to work by now?”
“I wanted to talk to you before you left. Here have a cup of coffee, and there is some French toast that your mom made and froze. I have defrosted and heated some for us.”
“Dad, are you worried about something?”
“Yes, I’m worried about Ann Marie.”
“Why? If I get fiscal responsibility for her inheritance, I’m not going to put her out on the street. I intend to ensure she has sufficient security to last her a lifetime. Here is how she spent the 10,000 that she received. Could you see her with a 100,000? It would be gone in a year, and she would be here forever.”
“I knew she was given some money, but I didn’t know how much. She never mentioned how much she had.”
“Dad, I don’t want her to live here. She has been here for several weeks, and you know how she has behaved. She moved into my room and didn’t care where Randy would sleep. She ordered him about until I put a stop to that. Look at Mom. She hardly smiles anymore. I’ll bet she blames herself for the way Ann Marie acts. If she could have gone to any other place, I would bet any money she wouldn’t come home. This was the last place she wanted to come, but she had no choice. It was here or the street. I’m going to make sure she won’t be on the street and won’t be here unless it is to visit, which I think will never happen.”
I could see the tears in Dad’s eyes. I don’t know how it would feel to have a child that used your love only when there was no other choice. It wasn’t that I didn’t want Ann Marie to come home, but not because there was no other option. It should be a child’s wish to see their parents out of a desire of love and concern for their parents, and it shouldn’t be the way Ann Marie came home. A child should want to see their parents and not take advantage of them.
“Dad, let’s meet for lunch at the hotel on Main Street. I’ll share with you what happened in the meeting with Judge Howard and what I’m going to do.”
Dad nodded and hugged me.
Leaving, I walked to the courthouse. I needed to clear my head. I knew that Ann Marie had my parents worried, and I guess that is natural for a parent to worry about their children. I hope they don’t blame themselves for the way she acts.
I arrived 15 minutes early. I told the court clerk I had an appointment with Judge Howard at 9. He left and returned, “Judge Howard will see you now.”
I spent the next 2 hours explaining what I wanted and reviewing the information I brought with me. I told him how my parents were concerned and Ann Marie’s inability to be fiscally responsible. The bottom line, I received a judgment that essentially made Ann Marie a ward of the court under my supervision. I would be required to submit a report every six months to the court. I had the court’s authority to manage her finances. Judge Howard would send a court decree to Ann Marie with a copy to me.
I met Dad for lunch and told him what had happened. “Dad, a part of Mr. Struthers legacy was a lodge located on a lake in the northern part of our state. I’m going to have Ann Marie live there. Mr. Struthers has a housekeeper and gardener that live there now. They will take care of the lodge and Ann Marie. I’ll give her a pre-paid credit card, and I’ll add funds to it monthly. She may not like it, but that is how it will be. She has no one to blame but herself.”
“You know she won’t accept that.”
“She has no choice, and it is either that or the court will have her committed to a home for vagrant women.”
“Are you going to tell her?”
“She will get a letter from the court. I’ll be back this coming Friday. I’ll talk to her.”
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Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
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