Bobby delivered copies of the rental payments, including dates and amounts. The accountant compared them with Daddy’s bank statements and nursing home bills. The records confirmed that Bobby had paid the rent regularly, but the money had gone into an account controlled by Sherry instead of Daddy’s checking account. Some funds had covered expenses, but several withdrawals still needed explanations. Daddy refused to accept guesses or promises. He wanted every transaction documented.

Meanwhile, I sat at our kitchen table and added up the money I had sent toward Daddy’s care. The total was $75,600. My husband, Doug, had supported me without complaint, even when we postponed purchases and tightened our budget. When I told Daddy the amount, he stared at the papers for a long time. “You should never have carried this burden without knowing the truth,” he said. I realized then that the money was only part of the damage. Three years of worry and sacrifice had been built on information someone had deliberately kept from me.