Chapter 9 - ERIC’S SON
Eric avoided all of us for six weeks.
Then Tyler called me.
“Aunt Rachel?”
I hadn’t spoken to him since the funeral.
“Hey.”
“Can I ask you something weird?”
“Usually the best questions.”
He hesitated.
“Did Grandpa really leave me that much money?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
I laughed softly.
“You’d have to ask him.”
“I asked Dad.”
“And?”
“He said Grandpa wanted me to have a head start.”
“That sounds right.”
Tyler became quiet.
“Grandma called me yesterday.”
My stomach tightened.
“Is she okay?”
“Yeah.”
“She asked about school.”
Normal.
Then Tyler said:
“Dad told me not to tell her about the trust amount.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“He said she might expect us to use it for her.”
I closed my eyes.
Eric.
Of course.
“What did you tell him?”
“That it isn’t his money.”
I smiled.
“You’re smarter than your father.”
“Please don’t tell him I said that.”
“You didn’t. I did.”
Tyler laughed.
Then became serious.
“Can I use some of it for Grandma?”
“That’s something you need to discuss with the trustee once distributions are allowed.”
“But do you think Grandpa would be mad?”
There was the question none of us had asked.
What would Dad think if the grandchild he protected financially chose voluntarily to support the wife Dad assumed his daughter would handle alone?
“I don’t know.”
That answer felt better than pretending.
“But your money doesn’t measure your love for Grandma.”
“I know.”
“That works both directions.”
Tyler understood.
Eric apparently did not.
Two days later he called furious.
“Why are you involving my son?”
“I didn’t.”
“He wants to give Mom money.”
“Then maybe ask yourself why that embarrasses you.”
May you like
Eric hung up.
Sometimes the cleanest argument is the one another person ends because the answer is standing too close.
