Hazel stared at the Pembrook house for several minutes before asking me to help her onto the porch. Then she pulled an old envelope from her handbag. Inside was a photocopy of a bank draft for $100,000 made payable to Gene and Marlene three years earlier. Across the memo line Hazel had written, $25,000 for each child when they buy a home. My stomach dropped. Evan’s parents had not simply chosen to help his siblings more. The money had originally been given to help all four children equally.

Hazel explained that Gene had recently bragged about how “independent” Evan was, and something about his tone bothered her. After seeing our names in the auction notice, she checked her records and began asking questions. Gene finally admitted that he and Marlene had kept Evan’s $25,000 because they believed Tara, Brent, and Kristen “needed it more.” The remaining money had eventually been absorbed into their own savings. Hazel was furious, not because Evan was entitled to her money forever, but because her gift had been accepted under a specific promise.