"I'm not sure what makes you think I need financial help, but I didn't earn any of the money you have accumulated. It's yours. Don't sit on it saving it for me. Spend it on things that you enjoy now. Live a little."
She wrinkled her nose. "Actually, I didn't earn it either. If I had, maybe I wouldn't be so willing to give it away."
Barrett laughed. "Yes you would, but don't feel guilty about the money Grandma left you. Uncle Del invested his in a business that he enjoys. I know you invested yours in stock that gave you security for your retirement years. Now that you have that, invest some of it in something that gives you joy."
Del nodded. "Exactly; Mom would have liked that."
She sighed. "I'll think about it, but that wasn't why I came here. I came to celebrate your twenty-sixth birthday with you."
Actually, it was a relief to know she hadn't flown all the way from California because she thought he was destitute. He was glad to see her, and…"Do you have a hotel room yet?"
"Oh yes." She looked at the trailer. "This is rather primitive living."
"Oh, I don't know. I think Mary Jo thought it was rather lavish. They don't have electric or running water. They use an outside toilet and she's always climbing up on the roof to put tar on another leak."
Mrs. Monroe looked horrified. "How do they live without electricity?"
He shrugged. "I don't know, but they get along."
"Why don't they have electricity?"
"Mary Jo says it would cost too much to get electricity run to their land - the same about telephone lines." He glanced at Uncle Del and grimaced. "Cell phone towers aren't dependable either."
Mom smiled. "Someone should do something about that - especially with a special needs child." She thought about it for a moment. "But if you tried to get them help, some agency might try to take the boy out of the home."
Del frowned. "I can't imagine why. He's healthy and happy where he is."
She nodded absently. "He's missing out on things that might enrich his life, though."
Barrett nodded. "No doubt, but that could be true of a lot of children, special needs or not."
She suddenly smiled. "I'm sure it troubles you as well." She changed the subject and told him when and where the celebration would be. "I should stop by and tell Mary Jo."