Chapter 16 - Harold’s accounting
Harold Vale, Drusilla’s brother, cooperated fully.
He had helped with budgets.
Not confinement.
He produced spreadsheets.
He told investigators:
“I thought she was building a legitimate respite business.”
“Did you ask about licensing?”
“No.”
“Did you know children were locked in shed?”
“No.”
“Did you know she planned to seek care authority for Elowen?”
“Yes.”
“Why help?”
“Because Bramwell travels.”
Did he believe I was unfit?
“No.”
Then why guardianship?
“She used the word temporary caregiver, not taking custody.”
Important.
Drusilla had told different people different versions.
To Harold:
Practical care.
To Celia:
Weekday authority.
To her private notes:
Continuity strategy.
To herself:
Replacement.
Then money.
Harold calculated if Drusilla cared for Elowen four days every other week, actual incremental monthly costs might be:
Food:
$180.
Transportation:
$220.
Activities:
$250.
Maybe household allocation:
$200–$400.
Caregiving value:
Could be higher, but needed agreement.
Not $2,900 automatically.
He told Drusilla that.
She increased number anyway.
Why?
She included:
“Professional behavior support.”
$900/month.
Her own unlicensed service.
There.
Potential self-dealing.
First Mountain would never have approved without scrutiny.
Then Harold apologized to me.
“I should have asked what she was doing.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
No excuses.
Then he asked if he could see Elowen.
They barely had relationship.
No issue.
I said:
May you like
“At family events, eventually.”
No punishment through association.
