PART 18 – Karen Kept Asking Why I Didn’t Trust Her, but She Still Hadn’t Given Me the One Document I Had Requested Months Earlier

Karen called me on a weekday evening.

I almost knew what the conversation would be about before answering.

She wanted to know what Mr. Fenwick had said.

I explained that he was reviewing the trust documents and the financial records.

She asked whether he believed she had done something wrong.

I told her he hadn't reached a conclusion.

She sounded irritated.

Then she asked why I had involved him at all.

I reminded her that Mom had specifically named him in the letter.

She said Mom could have been confused.

I told her that was something the documents needed to help clarify.

Karen sighed.

She said she had been doing everything for Mom while I had been living far away.

I didn't argue with that.

It was true that she had handled the practical responsibilities.

But I had never said she hadn't helped.

I told her that taking care of Mom didn't remove the need to explain the financial decisions.

She said I was making her life difficult.

I asked whether she had the closing settlement statement.

She didn't answer directly.

I reminded her that I had requested it after the sale.

She had promised to send it.

Months had passed.

I still hadn't received it.

Karen said she would look into it.

I waited for more.

Nothing came.

I asked whether she could provide the records showing where the sale proceeds had gone.

She said she had already told me the money was for Mom.

I told her I understood what she had said.

I still wanted the documents.

She became defensive again.

She said I seemed determined to believe the worst about her.

I told her I wasn't trying to decide what had happened before seeing the records.

I was trying to find out what had happened.

There was a long silence.

Then Karen asked whether I had shown the letter to anyone else.

I told her Mr. Fenwick had seen it.

She asked whether Tyler and Hannah had kept copies.

I said I didn't know.

She seemed particularly concerned about what the buyers knew.

I found that strange.

They had simply brought us something they discovered.

I asked Karen whether she had known about the trust.

She said she hadn't.

I asked whether she had ever been told that the property was held for Emily.

She repeated that she had never heard of it.

I didn't argue.

The documents would speak for themselves.

Before ending the call, Karen said something that stayed with me.

She told me that I should remember she was the one who had been there.

I didn't forget that.

I knew she had been nearby.

I knew she had attended to things I couldn't.

But being physically present didn't give anyone the right to avoid questions.

I told her I wanted the same thing she should want.

For Mom to be safe.

For her money to be properly managed.

For the truth about the house to be understood.

Karen didn't answer.

We ended the call.

I put the phone down.

I felt exhausted.

I wasn't enjoying any of this.

I wasn't looking for a fight with my sister.

I wanted to be able to call her without thinking about missing money or hidden letters.

But I couldn't go back to the way things were.

Not after what Mom had written.

Click here to continue reading: PART 19: When I Visited Mom Again, I Realized the House Was Gone but Her Need to Be Heard Had Never Disappeared