Chapter 9 - Cassandra’s parents
Cassandra’s parents were not wealthy.
That surprised some relatives.
Her father, Dennis Vale, owned a successful but modest commercial plumbing company.
Her mother taught middle-school art before retiring.
They contributed $35,000 to the wedding because they had saved specifically for it.
Cassandra told them Michael’s family was giving the newlyweds the North Howe townhouse.
Not occupancy.
Ownership.
Dennis called me after the wedding.
“Robert, I need to ask something.”
“What?”
“Were you transferring the house?”
“No.”
Silence.
“How long have you known Cassandra thought that?”
“I didn’t.”
He exhaled.
“She told us that’s why spending more on the wedding was fine. No mortgage for a while.”
I sat down.
Dennis continued:
“She also told us Michael’s restaurant loss was covered by you.”
“No.”
Another silence.
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That was the beginning of the central problem.
Michael and Cassandra had built their financial future out of assumptions they represented to different people as promises.
