“Open your online banking app right now.”
I stopped.
“Why? What happened?”
“Just open it and check the joint savings balance.”
I logged into the high-yield joint savings account where Brandon and I had been depositing money for years.
It was the account we always referred to as our future.
I refreshed the screen three times because I thought I had to be reading it wrong.
The remaining balance was only $1,300.
We were supposed to have almost $175,000 in that account.
My voice began to tremble.
“Claire… almost all the money is gone.”
She asked quietly, “How much?”
I swallowed hard.
“Nearly $170,000.”
Mom looked up from the bed, her eyes widening with concern.
Claire’s voice became calm and deadly serious.
“Do not call Brandon under any circumstances. Take screenshots of every page and download every statement immediately.”
That was the moment a much darker realization began creeping over me.
The $10,500 Brandon had accused my mother of stealing was suddenly the smallest financial problem in front of us.
