Chapter 3: The Account He Didn't Want Us to See
Wade stood beside the kitchen counter, one hand gripping the edge.
"There's nothing to show," he said.
Frank remained seated.
"Then showing us shouldn't be difficult.""
"It's a shared household account.""
"With whose name on it?""
Wade didn't answer.
Erin looked at her brother.
"Wade, whose name?""
"Mine.""
"And Dad's?""
"He's not good with online banking.""
Frank frowned.
"I can read a bank statement.""
"You don't understand how complicated everything is now.""
"I understand enough to know when someone is avoiding a question.""
Dawn moved toward the hallway.
Frank noticed.
"Dawn, please stay.""
She stopped.
"I don't think I should be involved.""
Frank looked at her.
"You've been involved since the moment my daughter walked through that door.""
Dawn's cheeks reddened.
Wade rubbed his forehead.
"Fine. I'll show you. But this is ridiculous.""
He pulled his phone from his pocket.
His thumb moved quickly across the screen.
Then he placed it on the table.
The banking app opened.
Erin leaned forward.
She recognized the account.
It was the account Wade had given her when he first asked for help with their father's expenses.
He had told her it was easier to have one person manage the payments.
She had believed him.
Her name wasn't listed.
Only Wade's.
Frank leaned closer.
"Go to the transactions.""
Wade tapped the screen.
A list appeared.
Erin scanned the recent entries.
Electricity.
Water.
Pharmacy.
Groceries.
A transfer to a medical supply store.
Then she saw several withdrawals.
$450.
$600.
$800.
Her forehead creased.
"What are these?""
Wade snatched the phone slightly closer to himself.
"Household expenses.""
"Which household expense costs eight hundred dollars in cash?""
"Sometimes things come up.""
"Like what?""
"Repairs. Supplies. Personal care.""
Frank pointed to another transaction.
"What's that?""
Wade glanced down.
"$529.""
"Where did that go?""
"I don't remember.""
Erin stared at him.
"You don't remember?""
Wade's voice rose.
"I manage hundreds of things. I'm not going to memorize every transaction.""
Erin pulled her own phone from her coat pocket.
She opened her banking app.
Her transfers were still there.
Every month.
Every payment.
She placed her phone beside Wade's.
"Look.""
Wade barely glanced at it.
"Look at what?""
"My transfers.""
She scrolled.
July: $750.
August: $750.
September: $900.
October: $750.
November: $750.
Then she opened the payment details.
"Every transfer has the same reference. Dad's care.""
Frank stared at the screen.
"That's what you wrote?""
"Yes.""
Wade shifted.
Erin continued.
"And these are separate payments I made directly.""
She opened another list.
The pharmacy.
The plumber.
The dentist.
The hearing aid batteries.
The insurance premium.
Frank looked increasingly confused.
"How much is all this?""
Erin swallowed.
"I haven't added everything.""
"Add it.""
Wade immediately shook his head.
"There's no need.""
Frank looked at him.
"I didn't ask you.""
Erin opened her calculator.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
She entered the monthly transfers first.
Then the separate payments.
Then the grocery receipts she had kept in her email.
She stopped twice to check the dates.
Finally, she turned the phone around.
"$8,946.""
Frank stared at the number.
Dawn's eyes widened.
Wade's face tightened.
"That's not accurate.""
Erin looked at him.
"It's exactly what I transferred or paid directly over the last several months.""
"You're counting things twice.""
"Show me where.""
"You don't know what you're talking about.""
Frank's voice cut through the kitchen.
"Enough.""
Wade fell silent.
Frank slowly stood.
His hand rested on the back of his chair.
He looked at the grocery bags, then at the repair invoice, then at his son.
"Your sister has spent nearly nine thousand dollars helping this family.""
Wade crossed his arms.
"She's my sister. It's not like she's a stranger.""
Frank's expression changed.
"That doesn't mean she's your personal bank.""
"I never said she was.""
"You just handed her a bill for your car.""
"Because I needed help!""
Frank nodded slowly.
"Then ask for help. Don't make it the price of seeing your father.""
Erin looked down.
She hadn't realized how much she needed to hear those words.
For months, she had questioned herself.
Had she been visiting too often?
Had she been asking too much?
Was she making her father uncomfortable?
Now, sitting beside him, she felt the truth settling into place.
She hadn't been the problem.
Wade had been controlling the information both of them received.
Frank pulled the chair closer and sat down again.
"Erin, I want you to tell me something.""
She looked at him.
"Anything.""
"Did Wade ever tell you I asked for money?""
Erin frowned.
"Not exactly.""
"What does that mean?""
"He said you needed extra help. That your pension wasn't enough for everything.""
Frank looked confused.
"My pension covers my expenses.""
Erin blinked.
"What?""
Frank turned toward Wade.
"Did you tell her I couldn't afford my medication?""
Wade's jaw moved.
"I said things were expensive.""
"Did you tell her I couldn't afford groceries?""
"Food prices have gone up.""
"Did you tell her I needed money for the heating bill?""
Wade looked away.
Frank's voice became quieter.
"Because I have paid those bills myself.""
Erin slowly turned toward her brother.
"Then what was my money for?""
Wade stared at the floor.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Dawn finally stepped toward the table.
"Maybe some of it went toward the house.""
Frank looked at her.
"Which part?""
She hesitated.
"The things Wade handles.""
"What things?""
Dawn's eyes moved toward her husband.
Wade shot her a warning look.
"Don't.""
Frank noticed.
"Don't what?""
Dawn swallowed.
"Frank, I think you should know that Wade has been saying something different to both of you.""
Wade immediately stepped forward.
"That's enough, Dawn.""
But she didn't stop.
"He told Erin that you were disappointed she didn't visit. And he told you that Erin didn't want to keep coming.""
Frank stared at her.
Dawn's voice became unsteady.
"He said it was easier if neither of you expected too much from the other.""
Erin felt cold.
"Why?""
Dawn looked down at the groceries.
"Because when you visited, Wade couldn't always get you to send money without questions.""
Wade slammed his palm against the table.
"You're twisting everything!""
Dawn flinched.
Frank stood.
"Don't you dare shout at her.""
Wade pointed toward his wife.
"She doesn't know what she's talking about.""
Dawn's eyes filled.
"I know about the transfers.""
Wade went completely still.
Erin turned toward her.
"What transfers?""
Dawn wiped her hands on her trousers.
"Some of the money didn't go toward your father's expenses.""
Frank stared at her.
"Where did it go?""
Dawn looked at Wade.
He shook his head once.
She took a breath.
"His personal account.""
Erin felt her stomach tighten.
"How much?""
Dawn didn't answer.
Frank moved closer to the table.
"How much of my daughter's money went into your personal account?""
Wade's lips parted.
For once, he had no immediate explanation.
Then Dawn added one sentence that made Erin's blood run cold.
"And the money isn't the only thing he lied about. He told us something else about your father that he never wanted you to discover.""
Frank looked at her.
"What?""
Dawn reached into her handbag.
She pulled out a folded envelope and placed it on the table.
Wade lunged forward.
"Dawn, don't you dare open that!""
But Frank had already seen the name written across the front.
His own name.
May you like
And beneath it, in smaller handwriting, were the words:
*PROPERTY AND FINANCIAL AUTHORIZATION.*
