“Did she just say that?”
Melissa’s face hardened.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I,” I said.
Daniel came downstairs.
“Mom, what are you doing?”
“Having dinner.”
“It’s almost seven.”
“I know how clocks work.”
Melissa stepped closer.
“You agreed to the rules.”
“No.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“I listened to the rules.”
There was a difference.
We ate at my dining table.
My table.
My dishes.
My house.
At 8:05, Melissa marched into the room.
“You need to wrap this up.”
Linda nearly choked on her drink.
Carol stared.
Janice whispered, “Oh, I like her confidence.”
I stood.
Melissa looked pleased.
Then I said, “You’re right.”
She smiled.
I continued.
“It is getting late. You and Daniel should probably start packing.”
The room went silent.
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
I walked to the sideboard and picked up an envelope.
Inside was a formal thirty-day notice to vacate.
Melissa stared at it.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I’m very serious.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
