Neither looked surprised.
My mother stood immediately.
“My son.”
I didn’t respond to the affection in her voice.
Instead, I placed a folder on the table.
Godfrey looked at it.
“What’s that?”
“Settlement documents.”
Both of them leaned forward.
I opened the folder.
“I spoke to my lawyer last night.”
Selina’s eyes brightened.
“And?”
“The settlement is real.”
Godfrey smiled.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“And the million dollars?”
“It’s available.”
Selina clasped her hands.
“That’s wonderful.”
I watched her carefully.
Not once did she ask how Phedra was doing.
Not once did she ask whether the doctors thought she would survive.
Her first concern was the money.
That was all I needed.
I continued.
“But there are conditions.”
Godfrey frowned.
“What conditions?”
“The trust can’t release the money directly to me.”
“Why?”
“Because of the nature of the settlement.”
I had expected that question.
“My lawyer says I need a financial manager.”
Selina exchanged a glance with Godfrey.
Then she smiled.
“You have family.”
I nodded.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
Godfrey’s eyes widened.
“You mean…”
“I need someone here to manage the money.”
Selina immediately said,
“I can do it.”
I looked at her.
“You already manage my finances.”
She smiled.
“Exactly.”
I nodded slowly.
“That’s why I trust you.”
Those words nearly tasted like poison.
But I said them anyway.
Then I added,
“There will be an audit.”
Her smile froze.
“What kind of audit?”
“Every dollar.”
Godfrey shifted in his chair.
“Why?”
“Because it’s a million dollars.”
“That’s normal,” I said. “My lawyer wants every transaction documented.”
Selina relaxed slightly.
“Of course.”
“And there’s another requirement.”
“What?”
“The trust will release the money in stages.”
Godfrey leaned forward.
“How much?”
