“She protects herself by skimming from his business accounts.”

I reached out and touched the dented lid of the rusted butter cookie tin.

“He stole my mother’s life insurance,” I said.

“He caused the accident, walked away unharmed, and tried to take her entire death benefit to pay off his own debts.”

Arthur took off his glasses again to polish them.

“And Beatrice stopped him,” Arthur said.

“She stood right where you’re sitting and swore he would never touch a single dime of your future.”

“She spent two years in civil court fighting him.”