“Eleanor, my love, take care of yourself. Promise me you’ll take care of yourself.”
Those were his last words. I promised him, but I did not know that promise would be so hard to keep.
After the funeral, I discovered that Arthur had been more careful than I imagined. There was a life insurance policy, a worker’s compensation settlement that the company finally agreed to pay after years of legal battles, a small pension that I would receive monthly. In total, there was almost $150,000 for us who never had anything.
It was a fortune. It was the result of 45 years of work, of sacrifice, of Arthur’s broken body. It was the future he wanted to secure for me.
I cried when I saw those numbers in the bank account. I cried because Arthur was no longer here to enjoy it. I cried because that money had the bitter taste of his absence.
Julian was by my side during the whole process. He helped me with the paperwork, with the lawyers, with the bank. He seemed so worried about me, so attentive. After the funeral, he started visiting more often. He would bring food, stay to talk, ask me how I was feeling.
I was so lonely in this big house. Every corner reminded me of Arthur. His empty chair at the table. His side of the bed cold. His tools in the garage waiting for hands that would never return. Having Julian around made me feel less lost.
I thought that finally, in my old age, I would have my son present—that after so many years of seeing him busy with his job, his wife, his life, he would now make time for his widowed mother.
How naive I was.
One day, three months after I received the money, Julian arrived with Sophia. They sat with me in the living room on this very sofa where the guests were now looking at us with pity.
“Mom, we’ve been thinking,” Julian said in a soft voice. “You don’t know how to manage that much money. You’ve never had to worry about investments, about accounts, about any of that. What if someone scams you? What if you lose everything?”
Sophia nodded beside him with that smile I believed was sincere.
“Mom, we’re saying this because we love you. Let us help you. Julian can manage your finances. Make sure the money is safe.”
I hesitated. Something inside me told me it was not a good idea. But I looked at my son, at those eyes that looked so much like Arthur’s. And I thought about all the times he had helped me with the insurance papers. I thought about how lonely I felt. I thought that maybe they were right.
“I don’t know, son. It’s the money your father left for me.”
“Exactly, Mom. And Dad would want you to be protected, for no one to take advantage of you. I just need you to give me power of attorney to manage the account. You’ll still get your monthly money. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure it’s well invested, that it grows.”
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