“The larger fraud questions may belong to investigators.

The family questions belong to you.”

When I told her about the text, she asked me to preserve the original message and its metadata if possible.

That afternoon, Miriam called and asked if I had eaten lunch.

It was such an ordinary question that I nearly cried.

“I’m fine,” I said.

“You don’t have to say that for my benefit.”

“I’m not ready to call you Mom every time.”