family during the previous decade.
Chloe’s rent.
Mom’s dental surgery.
Dad’s business-class flight after injuring his back.
Repairs to my parents’ roof.
Taxes on their lake house during a year when Dad’s investments performed badly.
I had never bothered adding everything together until Marcus suggested documenting our financial history.
The total was $418,600.
Mom stared at the final page.
“I didn’t know.”
“I know.”
That was the problem.
My help had become so normal that they barely noticed it anymore.
My generosity had turned into background noise.
Mom left
