“I think something for the bank.”
My stomach dropped.
“Why would Jason bring you bank forms?”
At sunrise, I called our family attorney, Denise.
Mom looked genuinely confused.
“He said he was helping.”
At sunrise, I called our family attorney, Denise.
She had handled Dad’s estate years earlier.
When I explained, she interrupted me.
By 8:30, I had Mom, Tyler, and every financial document I could find sitting in Denise’s office.
“Don’t confront Jason yet.”
By 8:30, I had Mom, Tyler, and every financial document I could find sitting in Denise’s office.
Denise spoke to Mom slowly.
“Did you knowingly give Jason permission to access or manage any of your accounts?”
Mom frowned.
“No.”
That call changed everything.
“Did he explain that any of the papers you signed could give him that kind of access?”
“No.”
Denise leaned back.
“Then we’re calling the bank.”
That call changed everything.
Jason had submitted documents requesting access to more than one of Mom’s accounts. Some of the requests were still being reviewed. One had already resulted in his being added to an account.
I already knew there had to be more.
Mom stared at the speakerphone.
“Why would he do that?”
I already knew there had to be more.
The answer arrived that afternoon.
Jason walked into my house carrying another folder.
He noticed Denise’s business card on the table.
I was waiting in the kitchen.
He smiled.
“Hey. Where’s Mom?”
“Upstairs.”
He noticed Denise’s business card on the table.
Jason slowly lowered himself into the chair.
His smile vanished.
I pointed to a chair.
“Sit down.”
He didn’t.
“What happened?”
“Sit.”
“It’s not what you think.”
Jason slowly lowered himself into the chair.
I placed copies of the paperwork in front of him.
“Explain these.”
His face went pale.
“It’s not what you think.”
“I was helping Mom.”
“What do I think?”
“I was helping Mom.”
“By getting access to her accounts?”
He rubbed his jaw.
“Come on.”
His eyes lifted to mine.
“Why, Jason?”
He said nothing.
“How much did you need?”
His eyes lifted to mine.
Silence.
“Twenty.”
“Jason.”
“Twenty.”
“Twenty what?”
“Thousand.”
My hands went cold.
“Why?”
And finally, everything came out.
He looked toward the stairs.
“My business is in trouble.”
And finally, everything came out.
Payments were late.
Two major jobs had fallen through.
He was behind on equipment financing.
He owed suppliers.
He was behind on equipment financing.
“Mom has money sitting there,” he said. “I would’ve paid it back.”
“You asked her before, didn’t you?”
