Chapter 28 - Renee’s Boundary
Renee forgave Tamika before she trusted her.
She told Jada this over lunch.
“How do you know you forgave her?”
Jada asked.
Renee dipped a fry in ketchup.
“Because I stopped rehearsing arguments with her while I shower.”
“That is disturbingly specific.”
“You’ll understand when you’re older.”
“I’m nineteen.”
“Exactly.”
Jada laughed.
They were discussing a problem.
Tamika wanted Renee to become permanent trustee until Jada turned twenty-five.
Renee did not.
“I’ve done my part.”
Jada stared.
“You’re abandoning me?”
“Dramatic.”
“Grandpa would hate this.”
“Manipulative.”
“I learned from family.”
Renee laughed.
Then became serious.
“I don’t want to manage your money for six more years.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to be your aunt.”
The answer stopped Jada.
Renee continued.
“For the last year, every conversation has been statements, receipts, lawyers, payments.”
“That’s true.”
“I don’t want to become the person you call only when money is wrong.”
“So what happens?”
“Leah suggested a professional trustee.”
Jada frowned.
“A stranger?”
“A trust company.”
“That sounds expensive.”
“It is.”
“No.”
“See? Economics major.”
Jada smiled.
Renee leaned forward.
“You can also petition the court for partial control depending on the trust terms and your age.”
“What does that mean?”
“Ask Leah.”
Jada did.
Isaiah’s trust allowed appointment of an independent successor trustee.
Jada could not take full control until twenty-five, but she had information rights and limited approval rights after twenty-one.
Leah recommended a small fiduciary firm.
Jada resisted.
Then she realized why.
A stranger could not guilt her.
A stranger would follow rules.
A stranger would not turn refusal into family betrayal.
Maybe that was exactly what the trust needed.
Tamika supported the idea immediately.
Jada looked at her suspiciously.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You expected me to argue?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because Grandpa chose family.”
Tamika smiled sadly.
“And family failed the job.”
Jada winced.
“That’s harsh.”
“It’s true.”
Renee looked at her sister.
“Growth.”
“Don’t sound proud.”
“I am against it in principle.”
The court approved Meridian Fiduciary Services as successor trustee.
Renee formally resigned.
She cried after signing.
Jada hugged her.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“Because Daddy trusted me.”
“You did what he asked.”
“I know.”
“And you protected me.”
Renee shook her head.
“Late.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I should have checked the statements.”
Jada looked at her.
“No.”
Renee frowned.
“No what?”
“You are not doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Taking responsibility for somebody else’s choice because you think you should have prevented it.”
Renee stared.
Then laughed.
“Look at you therapy-ing me.”
“I bill more.”
They hugged again.
Tamika watched from across the hallway.
Jada beckoned.
“Come here.”
Tamika froze.
It was the first time Jada had invited her into a family embrace since the kitchen.
Tamika approached slowly.
Renee immediately said, “Don’t make this weird.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You’re crying already.”
“I cry.”
Jada laughed.
The three women stood together.
Not healed.
Not restored to before.
There was no before anymore.
There was only after.
And after had rules.
Boundaries.
Receipts.
Apologies.
Separate bank accounts.
Independent trustees.
Therapy appointments.
Permission to say no.
That evening, Jada received another letter from Bellmore.
She had been selected for a competitive junior-year fellowship in financial ethics and public policy.
Award: ten thousand dollars.
Research placement included.
Jada stared at the letter.
Tamika stood beside her.
“What?”
Jada handed it over.
Tamika read.
Her eyes widened.
“Oh my God.”
Jada laughed.
“I got it.”
The words echoed.
Tamika looked at her.
Jada saw the memory hit them both.
The kitchen.
Acceptance letter.
Forced smile.
Darrell looking away.
Almost zero.
For a second, neither spoke.
Then Tamika smiled.
Not forced.
Not frightened.
Nothing hidden beneath a phone.
“I knew you would.”
Jada raised an eyebrow.
“Careful.”
Tamika corrected herself.
“I hoped you would.”
“Better.”
Renee read the letter.
“Ten thousand?”
“Yes.”
“Free?”
“Scholarship.”
Renee held the page against her chest.
“Daddy’s favorite number was free.”
Jada laughed.
She placed the fellowship letter inside the blue folder.
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Another document.
Another choice preserved.
