The Trust

Chapter 12: When, not if

Days go by, and no money.

It's all any of us can think about. But no one wants to broach the subject with my uncle. We're all like little kids waiting patiently at the dinner table with our hands folded, on our best behaviour to make sure we get dessert. Nobody wants to be crass enough to ask when we'll get the cash. But it's what everyone wants to know.

My tiny hope that somehow this is real fades with each passing day and is replaced by Father Jake's words on repeat in my brain: it's a scam. That sharp stab of a thought pierced me at that glitzy resort when Rob first made the announcement, but I ignored it, wanting to believe that something this wonderful could happen. I'm trying to keep the faith, but it's getting tough.

"If there's no money, why would Rob go to all that trouble?" Julie says to me over lunch. It's another grey, drizzly day and I only have 45 minutes to scarf down a sandwich before I have to go back to the dreary office and the unending minutiae of my job.

"I don't know. But if there is money, why isn't it in our bank accounts? It's been weeks now."

"It's coming. I know it." My sister nods her head firmly.

"How can you be so sure? What does Grant think?"

"He believes it. One hundred per cent," she says, sipping her coffee. I wish I had her confidence.

"In fact, we booked that trip to the south of France we've been meaning to take. You and Clive should come," she says but I know she only half means it. We both know I don't have the money, and besides, she hates my husband. I don't blame her; he's never really given her a reason to like him.

I find this news shocking. "Grant's taking a week off from his dental practice? He never takes time off!" I know that it's a bone of contention between the two, she wants him to take more time for vacations, he insists when he doesn't work, he doesn't get paid.

"See, that's what I mean. Grant's all in. He golfed with Rob a few weeks ago and they had a long chat over cigars and scotch. Rob's the real deal, he says. You know how skeptical he is."

"Huh." I let that sink in. Grant, who my sister complained sipped the work-ahol, was taking a vacation. The tiny spark of hope that burned down to a dim, smoking ember suddenly glowed back to life.

"And cousin Violet quit her job. She wouldn't do that if the money wasn't legit," Julie added.

"She did?! I thought she loved her job. It took her years of subbing to become a full-time teacher with all the benefits." This was news to me. Although my cousins and I weren't close — they lived away — I followed them on Facebook.

"Her Dad told her to — so if Rob's telling his kids to quit their jobs, you know it's real."

I ponder this. There's so much evidence on one side and then the other, I don't know what to believe — only what I want to believe.

"How are you and Clive doing, anyway?" Julie pressed gently. I knew what she wanted to hear was, "it's over. I've filed for divorce," but that wasn't in the cards for me. Not yet. Whatever spider silk-thin thread that kept us together was holding and there was peace in my house for the first time in a long time and I didn't want to disturb that.

Julie blew out a sigh. "Once you have that money, you'll have your freedom. You can get out of debt and walk away from that man for good. I'm going to send you the name of a good lawyer. You should start talking to him now about protecting your assets."

That makes me laugh. "What assets?" I push aside my half-eaten sandwich thinking about the $9.76 in my bank account. I'm no longer hungry.

"I know you're in financial trouble now. But when this money comes, you need to protect it. For all you know, Clive might have already lawyered up and is planning on suing you for alimony."

I shake my head. "Clive would never do that. He'd want that money for Audrey."

"Don't be so sure," Julie says, signalling to the waiter for the cheque. "Lunch is on me today."

Ordinarily, I'd protest but I don't have the energy. "Thanks, sis. I gotta get back to work. Let's do something this weekend."

"Sure. We can go for a spin in the new whip!"

"The new what?"

"You know, our new whip — like the kids say! I'm getting a new car!"

"Didn't you just get a new car two years ago?!" It was a nice one too, a Honda CRV.

"Pssh." She waved her hand dismissively. "I'm getting a new Mercedes SUV, brand new. I found one in Montreal and fell in love with it. Grant is flying up there to drive it back home for me."

"What?" The money this little venture is going to cost is staggering to me. "I know you're both doing well, but I didn't think you were doing this well!"

"I'm not! We'll just pay for it when the money comes in," she grins.