- 8.
Without that burden, my life returned to
normal. I had more energy for my family and
my work.
One day during lunch, I checked the security cameras I’d installed at Mom’s house because I was worried about her being alone. I hadn’t told them about the cameras, so neither Mom nor my brother knew about them.
My brother’s claim of not caring for her was true; he hadn’t even gone back to the house.
As I watched, Mom called my brother.
<
He didn’t seem to want to answer, but she
persisted, and he finally picked up.
I couldn’t hear what was said on the other
end, but I heard Mom sweetly coaxing him to
come home.
“Okay, okay, just come home quickly. Mom’s
waiting for you.”
To my surprise, he agreed.
I was curious what she’d said, so I kept
watching the feed.
He arrived shortly after, his first words being,
“Mom, how
are you feeling today?”
く
“Didn’t you say you’d take me to get the will
notarized? Were you serious? Come on, get
up, let’s go.”
Mom was visibly happy to see him.
“My son is finally back! You have no idea how
much I’ve suffered. That heartless Ashley
actually abandoned me.”
“My son is so much better; he actually cares
about me.”
She clung to his arm, complaining.
My brother was impatient. “Cut to the chase.
<
Is it true that Ashley’s will is no good?”
So that’s why he came back. He was after the
inheritance.
Since graduating college, my brother hadn’t worked a day, relying entirely on Mom. He’d
also developed a gambling problem.
He only claimed to not care about Mom’s
money because he saw taking care of her as
a burden.
Now that he was desperate for cash, he didn’t
care anymore.
<
Mom nodded. “I thought she was filial, but
you were right. Her ‘filial piety‘ was all an act.
Good thing I didn’t really leave her the
inheritance.”
At the mention of money, my brother’s eyes
lit up.
“Mom, I told you, your son is the only one you can rely on. Ashley is too cunning. You never know, she might have stolen all your money.”
Mom nodded. “Let’s get the will notarized now. I’m leaving all my money to my son, not
a penny to her.”
く
The more I listened, the colder I felt.
For years, I’d taken care of her every need.
Now, because I refused to continue, she
erased all my past efforts.
A few sweet words from my brother made her
forget how he’d abandoned her.
She only cared about him, constantly trying to
drain me dry.
“Where did you put your ID and social
security card? I’ll find them so we can get the
will notarized.”
<
Mom pointed to a nearby cabinet. “They
should be in there. See if you can find them.”
My brother rummaged through the cabinet,
then turned back. “Mom, you’re not going to
pull the same trick on me that you pulled on
Ashley, are you?”
Mom hesitated for a moment. “Of course not!
Why would I lie to you?”
“But after you get the inheritance, you have
to take care of me. You can’t just leave me to
die. I only have you now.”
My brother was surprisingly agreeable. “Don’t
く
My brother was surprisingly agreeable. “Don’t
worry, I’ll take good care of you.”
I watched as my brother ransacked the house,
finding all the necessary documents, and then
wheeled Mom out the door.
