Chapter 11
The trust fraud portion was worse than expected.
Diane had stolen nearly half of Jack’s education fund.
Evan helped move some.
The crooked clerk helped access records.
A financial advisor helped hide transfers.
All of them called it loans.
Temporary.
Family help.
But Jack was a child.
His money had been guarded by a dead grandmother and stolen by living adults.
Lucy cried when the accountant testified.
“My mother left that for him,” she whispered.
I wanted to apologize.
Again.
But apologies can become noise when repeated too often.
So I sat beside her and stayed silent.
The prosecutor showed messages.
Diane to Evan:
Once Lucy is declared absent, Mark will sign anything.
Evan:
And the kid?
Diane:
He’ll adjust. Children do.
I stared at those words until they blurred.
Children adjust.
No.
Children survive what adults refuse to stop.
Jack had survived.
But survival was not innocence returned.
At home, after court, Jack asked what happened.
Lucy looked at me.
My turn.
I told him Diane took money meant for him.
He frowned.
“Money from Grandma?”
“Yes.”
“Can we get it back?”
“We’re trying.”
He nodded.
Then said, “I care more that Mom came back.”
Lucy cried.
I did too.
Jack looked annoyed.
May you like
“Adults cry a lot.”
“Yes,” I said. “We do.”
