Chapter 2 - The Attorney's Call
Mara answered on the second ring.
"Claire, it's late. What's going on?"
"I need your help. My mother forged my grandmother's signature on a power of attorney document."
There was a pause.
"Say that again."
"My mother took my grandmother's walker, locked her in a laundry room, and forged her signature on legal documents. I have the paperwork."
"Where are you?"
"At my mother's house. In Virginia."
"Don't move. I'll be there in two hours."
"I'm calling an ambulance too. My grandmother needs to be checked out."
"Good. Secure that document. Don't let anyone take it from you."
"I won't."
"Claire, this is serious. If what you're saying is true, your mother is looking at multiple felony charges."
I looked at Mom.
She was still gripping the doorframe, her face ashen.
"I know."
---
I hung up and dialed 911.
The operator answered immediately.
"Nine-one-one, what's your emergency?"
"I need an ambulance at 1428 Oakwood Lane. My grandmother is seventy-eight years old, recovering from wrist surgery, and I believe she's been medically neglected."
"Is she conscious?"
"Yes. But she's not safe here."
"Are there any weapons in the home?"
"Not that I know of."
"Paramedics are on their way."
---
I turned to Mom.
"The ambulance is coming."
"You called an ambulance?"
"Yes."
"You're making me look like a monster."
"You're doing that yourself."
Grandma reached for my hand.
Her skin was cold.
"Claire," she whispered, "there's something else you need to know."
"What?"
"Your mother has been transferring money from my account for months."
I felt my blood go cold.
"Months?"
"She took my checkbook. I told her I wanted to pay the bills, but she said she would handle everything. I thought she was helping. But then I saw the bank statements."
"How much?"
"Over forty thousand dollars."
"Forty thousand?"
Grandma nodded.
"She took it in small amounts. Five hundred here. A thousand there. I didn't notice at first. But when I started adding it up..."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was ashamed. She's my daughter. I didn't want to believe she would steal from me."
"Grandma, this isn't your fault."
"She told me I was confused. She said the money was for household expenses. But our household expenses haven't changed in twenty years."
Mom finally moved.
She walked toward us.
"Get out of my house. Both of you. Now."
"I'm not leaving without my grandmother."
"Then you're both trespassing. I'll call the police."
"Call them. I already have a friend from the state attorney general's office on the way. I'd love to see you explain the forged signature to them."
Mom's bravado cracked.
"Claire, please. We can work this out."
"There's nothing to work out. You stole from her. You forged documents. You abused a vulnerable person."
"I'm her daughter!"
"And I'm her granddaughter. That doesn't give me the right to steal from her."
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