Each lie was a small stab, but I’d grown immune to the pain. What struck me instead was how easily Darren was starting to believe her version of reality. The version where they were my caretakers, sacrificing their independence to look after a helpless old woman. By morning, Darren had been convinced.
He knocked on my bedroom door while I was getting dressed, something he hadn’t done in months. Mom, can we talk? I opened the door to find my son looking uncomfortable the way he used to when he was 12 and had broken something valuable. Of course, sweetheart, what’s on your mind?
It’s about Lennox’s business. They’re going through a rough patch and we were wondering, I mean, we thought maybe you might be able to help. Help how? Well, if you could cosign for a small business loan, just temporary until they get back on their feet.
I looked into my son’s eyes and saw the little boy who used to bring me dandelions and call them flowers. The same little boy who was now asking me to risk my home to save the business I’d already been secretly funding for 2 years. How much are we talking about? I asked gently.
Maybe 50,000 60 at the most. Such a small amount compared to what I’d already given them. But they didn’t know that and their ignorance had become my power. Let me think about it, I said.
This is a big decision. Darren’s face lit up with relief. Really? You’ll consider it?
I’ll consider it. But what I was really considering was how far I was willing to let them fall before I decided whether to catch them. I told them I needed a week to consider the loan. What I really needed was time to gather information that would change everything.
On Wednesday morning, while Darren was at work and Lennox was at what she called a crucial client meeting, I drove to the small coffee shop downtown where I’d arranged to meet someone who’d been watching my family’s situation with growing concern. Margaret Chen, Robert’s wife, had been Harold’s secretary for 15 years before he retired. She’d helped him set up the Montgomery Trust, and she’d kept in touch with me after his death, checking in periodically to see how I was managing.
Ramona,” she said, sliding into the booth across from me. “You look better than you have in months.” “I feel better,” I admitted. Though I’m not sure that’s going to last. Margaret had called me 2 days earlier with information she felt I needed to hear. Information about Lennox that explained so much about the past 3 years.
“Tell me what you found,” I said, gripping my coffee cup like an anchor. Margaret pulled out a folder, glancing around to make sure we couldn’t be overheard. I wasn’t sure whether to share this, but after what you told me about how they’ve been treating you. She opened the folder to reveal printed emails, bank statements, and what looked like court documents, Lennox wasn’t entirely honest about her background when she married Darren.
Margaret said carefully. This isn’t her first marriage. My stomach dropped. What do you mean?
She was married before to a man named Richard Hartwell. Wealthy family, owned several car dealerships in Connecticut. The marriage lasted two years. Margaret showed me a newspaper clipping from a Connecticut paper dated 4 years ago.
The headline read, “Local businessman granted restraining order against ex-wife.” According to the court records, Lennox had moved in with Richard’s elderly mother after their wedding. Within 6 months, she’d convinced Richard that his mother was becoming scenile and needed to be moved to a care facility. She took control of the household finances and started isolating the older woman from friends and family. I felt cold despite the warm coffee shop.
What happened? Richard’s mother tried to warn him, but Lennox was very skilled at making her complaints sound like the ramblings of a confused old woman. It wasn’t until Richard discovered that $50,000 had been transferred from his mother’s account to a business Lennox had started that he began investigating. Margaret turned the page to show me bank statements.
Lennox had been slowly draining his mother’s savings while convincing Richard that the money was going toward the old woman’s care. When he confronted her, she claimed his mother had given her permission. Said the old woman was grateful for all of Lennox’s help and wanted to support her business ventures. The parallels to my own situation were chilling.