Chapter 24 - NINA ASKS ABOUT MONEYNina was almost ten when she finally asked:
“Are we rich?”
I laughed.
We were driving to soccer.
“Why?”
“Vivian says Grandpa used to be rich and Daddy was rich and you have Daddy’s money.”
Children assemble financial models from overheard fragments.
“We have enough.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“No.”
I tried again.
“Your dad left money and assets that help keep us secure. I also work. Our house has a mortgage. We have savings. You have money protected for your future.”
“Can I buy a horse?”
“No.”
“So not rich.”
“Excellent financial reasoning.”
She laughed.
Then:
“Did you make Grandpa sell his house?”
“No.”
“Did Daddy?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Grandpa had borrowed money years earlier. Some of it from Dad. The loan came due after Dad died. Grandpa couldn’t repay it without selling or getting another loan.”
“Could you have let him keep it?”
“I could have considered giving him more time.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Hard question.
“Because when we checked the finances, he had more debt than I knew and had been using a company card after Dad died. Extending the loan did not look safe for the estate.”
She frowned.
“Was it because of my clothes?”
“The dinner made me stop assuming everything was okay and check carefully. But no, throwing your clothes away did not legally cost him the house.”
Nina nodded.
Then:
May you like
“I’m glad you didn’t lie.”
Me too.
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