Maren’s investigator traced payments from the trust to one of my father’s companies, and the records revealed that some of those payments had been described as loans.

A signed note existed for one transfer.

Others had no supporting loan documents that anyone could locate.

My father insisted the money had been used for family purposes and that the beneficiaries had benefited indirectly.

He pointed to holidays, tuition assistance, and medical bills.

Some of those expenses were real.

Others were amounts he had listed without proof.

I had spent years feeling guilty whenever he reminded me how much raising children cost.