Chapter 5 - MY MOTHER HAD BEEN PRETENDING TO BE MORE CONFUSED THAN SHE WAS
This surprised me.
During last two months before hospital, Eleanor sometimes exaggerated confusion.
Why?
She suspected Vanessa/Nathan were using capacity narrative.
So she gave them what they expected.
Asked same question twice.
Pretended not to remember account.
Then watched what they did.
Risky.
Rachel had not advised? She knew partly but not extent.
Mother said:
“I needed them careless.”
I was angry.
“You could have gotten hurt.”
She looked at oxygen line.
“I did.”
Then:
“Why not go to police?”
“I had copies, not enough context.”
Then:
“And I wanted to know if Nathan would stop.”
Painful.
She was giving son chance.
He didn't.
Then bedside recorder.
She intentionally left running.
Then locked drawer.
She kept originals.
Then key in hand hospital.
She expected something?
She had asked me to come home.
When she saw Vanessa, she feared documents would vanish.
She held key.
Then oxygen incident.
That became immediate.
Then I asked:
“Mom, did you think Vanessa would kill you?”
“No.”
“Then why letter ‘if anything happens’?”
“Because sick people die.”
Practical.
She knew heart condition.
If natural death occurred before exposure, forged will wins initially.
So letter.
Then her new legitimate will.
The one in drawer—was it real?
Yes, but not the “new will” with Vanessa. There were two.
One legitimate draft by Rachel restoring old plan and adding trust safeguards.
One fraudulent by Martin.
The folder contained both for comparison.
Opening user says new will; we can clarify.
Mom’s actual estate remained divided between sons but she changed Nathan’s share to protected discretionary trust after suspicions? Did she sign before final proof? Maybe.
She had prepared but not executed.
She refused revenge disinheritance impulsively.
After case, she updated.
Nathan still received smaller protected share later? Could be controversial.
She said:
“He is my son even if he stole.”
But estate cannot ignore restitution.
Final will:
After restitution claims, remaining estate: 55% Ethan branch, 20% Nathan protected trust for basic needs/children? 15% staff/charity? Hmm.
Better she equalized not as reward? Maybe she placed Nathan’s inheritance into restitution-offset trust; no direct control, creditors/restitution first. Family law.
She did not use inheritance as criminal punishment beyond necessary.
Good.
Then my relationship with Mom.
I became overprotective.
Called nurses constantly.
She hated.
“Ethan, I survived Vanessa. I cannot survive you managing my socks.”
I laughed.
She insisted on independent care team.
Professional fiduciary for finances.
Not me.
At first I took personally.
Then remembered.
Good.
She revoked all sons' direct financial authority.
Excellent.
Independent trust company.
Monthly statements to her and outside counsel.
Then:
“No one gets my password because they share DNA.”
I deserved.
Then hospital discharge to assisted care? She returned home with nursing support.
Not mansion alone.
Then oxygen equipment managed.
Vanessa banned by order.
Nathan no contact initially except letters.
Mom later chose supervised visits.
Agency.
Then first visit with Nathan before sentencing.
He cried.
She said:
“I love you.”
Then:
“I do not trust you with money.”
Both.
Nathan:
“I understand.”
Then:
“Do you forgive?”
“No.”
Not yet.
Then:
“Will you?”
“I don’t know.”
Good.
Then she asked:
“Why Harbor Point?”
He said:
“I wanted something that was mine.”
She replied:
“You already had yourself.”
May you like
That line.
Then he looked down.
