Chapter 18 - The House
I went back alone.
The house smelled the same.
My room was untouched after the court order.
Mom’s dresser was back inside.
The balcony door stuck when I opened it.
It had always stuck.
I sat on the floor.
But Mom was not in the hardwood.
Not in the cherry cabinet.
Not in the bedroom.
She was in the letter telling Dad not to give away my future.
She was in the trust she built.
She was in the fact that she saw danger before anyone else did.
Dad arrived an hour later, and we sat at the kitchen table.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you want to stay?”
He looked around.
“No.”
That surprised me.
“Too much happened here.”
“What will you do?”
“Rent something small.”
“You can afford better.”
“I know.”
Good.
We sat quietly.
Then he said, “I want to sell you my forty percent.”
“Why me?”
“Because Elaine wanted you protected.”
“You knew that eleven years ago.”
“I know.”
No defense.
Again.
“I can’t undo what I did.”
“No.”
“I can stop pretending I’m entitled to more.”
I bought his share at appraised value.
Then I owned the whole house.
Gwendolyn’s occupancy ended under the final order.
She had already moved to a rented condo.
No dramatic eviction.
No boxes on the lawn.
Just keys returned through attorneys.
I stood in the empty living room with Maya.
“What now?”
“You tell me.”
I surprised myself.
“I don’t want to live here.”
“What about selling?”
I looked toward the stairs.
“Not yet.”
They needed transitional apartments and office space.
The house was too large for one family.
Perfect for five small suites.
Maya stared at me.
“You’re donating it?”
“No.”
I smiled.
“I’m leasing it for one dollar a year.”
The first renovation plan kept one room untouched.
Mine.
Not as a bedroom.
As a counseling room.
On the door, I put a small brass plaque.
ELAINE ROOM.
Then Chloe called.
May you like
“Paige, turn on the news.”
Gwendolyn’s plea agreement had just been rejected by the judge.
