Michael pushed the folder toward her.
“I was going to transfer money from the trust into the household account.”
Diane stared.
“Why?”
“The mortgage adjustment.”
She looked up.
Their home loan had reset after a fixed period.
Payments increased almost $1,400 per month.
Michael’s travel schedule had expanded partly because he accepted more client work to cover it.
He had told Diane he might refinance.
Apparently something else had happened.
“How much?”
“Thirty-six thousand.”
Her face changed.
“For what?”
“Twelve months.”
“To cover the difference while we refinance and stabilize.”
Diane stared.
“Emma’s trust pays our mortgage?”
“Part of housing cost can qualify because this is her primary residence.”
“That is what Rachel said?”
“Her attorney confirmed.”
Diane looked down at the paperwork.
Her hands shook slightly.
“How long has the trust contributed to the house?”
Michael stopped.
He had expected relief.
Not that question.
“Two years.”
She stared.
“What?”
“Not directly at first.”
“The down payment on the addition came partly from a permitted distribution.”
“What addition?”
“The bedroom wing.”
Diane’s face changed.
The house had been remodeled eighteen months after their marriage.
A new bedroom for Lucas.
A shared homework room.
An expanded laundry room.
The project cost far more than Michael initially admitted.
Diane thought a home-equity line covered it.
“How much from Emma’s trust?”
“Forty-eight thousand.”
Diane stood.
“You used forty-eight thousand dollars of that child's money on this house?”
Michael stared.
“Child's?”
She froze.
Now it was his turn.
Diane closed her eyes.
Michael continued:
“Interesting.”
“Don't.”
“You've been treating her like she needs to earn her place at the dinner table while her trust helped build the bedroom your son sleeps in.”
Diane went pale.
“That is not fair.”
“No?”
“I didn't know.”
“Exactly.”
Michael’s anger softened slightly because that mattered.
She truly had not known.
He continued:
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I didn't because I thought it would make family dynamics weird.”
Diane laughed in disbelief.
“Fantastic work.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“Apparently secrecy was thriving in this marriage.”
She looked at the documents.
“How much total?”
Michael took time.
“From Emma’s trust toward housing and shared household expenses?”
“Yes.”
“About eighty-two thousand since Sarah died.”
Diane stared.
“Before us?”
“Some.”
“How much since we married?”
“Roughly fifty-seven.”
Her face collapsed.
Lucas’s bedroom.
The homework room.
Part of the roof replacement.
A summer childcare program both children attended.
Emma’s money had not paid for everything.
Not even most.
Still.
The child Diane had increasingly viewed as someone receiving more emotional attention because of a dead mother had materially supported a home benefiting everyone.
Diane sat again.
“I didn't know.”
“I know.”
“Stop.”
Michael nearly smiled despite himself.
Fair.
Diane looked toward the stairs.
“I told myself she had more.”
Michael stared.
“What?”