She organized files.
I signed refinancing paperwork after she explained the broad terms.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped reading as closely as I should have.
Not because Natalie demanded it.
At least not originally.
Because convenience is seductive.
And trust can become a convenient excuse for avoiding responsibility.
At the time, I didn’t see that as a problem.
Neither did she.
Or so I believed.
My father had never been as comfortable with our arrangement.
“Both people should know where the money goes.”
He said that once over dinner.
Natalie smiled politely.
“We do.”
Raymond looked at me.
“Grant?”
I answered: