“No.”
She walked toward the front door, but I stopped her.
“I’ll answer it.”
Through the glass, I saw Graham standing beside a woman in a navy suit.
The woman carried a leather folder.
Graham looked exhausted.
I opened the door.
“Good morning.”
“Mom,” he said.
Then he glanced at Ruth.
“I’m sorry to come so early.”
I looked at the woman.
“Who is this?”
She extended her hand.
“I’m Claire Bennett. I represent T&E Property Holdings.”
I did not take her hand immediately.
“Is there a problem?”
“No, Mrs. Mercer. I’m here because Mr. Mercer requested a meeting concerning the property.”
Graham stepped forward.
“I thought we could talk here.”
I looked at him.
“You could have called.”
“I did.”
“I know.”
He swallowed.
“Please, Mom.”
I stepped aside.
“Come in.”
Claire sat at the dining table.
Graham remained standing until I gestured toward a chair.
Ruth brought another cup of coffee.
Claire opened her folder.
“First, I want to clarify that the termination notice is proceeding according to the rental agreement and applicable law.”
Graham nodded.
“I understand.”
“Second, the property is not being sold immediately. The company will provide the required notice period and coordinate the next steps.”
Paige had apparently told him that I was throwing them out the next day.
I had never said that.
“I don’t want you to lose your home without time to prepare,” I told him.
He looked at me.
“Then why did you buy it?”
I folded my hands.
“Because I wanted to own a home.”
“But you knew we lived here.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Would you have listened?”
He looked down.
Claire closed the folder.
“I’ll give you both some privacy.”
She stood and moved toward the porch.
Graham watched her leave.
Then he turned toward me.
“I don’t understand.”
“I know.”
“You bought this house after winning the lottery?”
“Yes.”
“And you made a company?”
“Yes.”
“And you were planning to make us leave?”
“I was planning to move into my own home.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
I looked at him.
“Graham, I didn’t buy this house to punish you.”
“Then why?”
“Because I had the means to make a decision for myself.”
He sat down.
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the clock on the wall.
Then he said something I had not expected.
“Paige wants to know whether you can help us buy another house.”
Ruth, who had been standing in the kitchen doorway, went completely still.
I looked at Graham.
“Does Paige want to know that?”
“Yes.”
“Or do you?”
He rubbed his face.
“I don’t know.”
I stood and walked to the window.
The rose bushes were beginning to bloom.
“When your father died, you asked me to move in with you.”
“I remember.”
“You said I shouldn’t be alone.”
“I meant it.”
“I believe you.”
“Then what happened?”
I turned.
“Life happened. Responsibilities happened. People got comfortable.”
He looked at me.
“Mom…”
“I became the person who solved everything.”
He did not deny it.
“You didn’t have to do all that.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you?”
“Because I loved you.”
He looked at the table.
I continued.
“But love can become unhealthy when only one person keeps giving.”
Graham wiped his eyes.
“I don’t want you to think I never loved you.”
“I don’t.”
“Then why do I feel like I’ve lost you?”
I sat across from him.
“Because you are finally seeing the difference between having a mother and having someone who will always take care of you.”
He said nothing.
After a while, I asked, “Where is Paige?”
“At home.”
“And the children?”
“With her.”
“Does Owen know about the house?”
“No.”
“Good.”
Graham looked up.
“Why?”
“Because he is a child. He should not be made responsible for adult decisions.”
He nodded slowly.
Then his phone rang.
Paige.
He answered.
“Hello?”
I watched his expression change.
“What do you mean?”
He stood.
“No, I’m at Mom’s.”
A pause.
“Paige, stop.”
Another pause.
Then he closed his eyes.
“I’m not asking her for money.”
He looked at me.
I heard Paige’s voice faintly through the phone.
Graham ended the call.
“What happened?” I asked.
He sat down.
“She wants me to ask you to give us enough money for a down payment.”
I said nothing.
“She says you have more than you need.”
I looked toward the window.
“Do you believe that?”
He hesitated.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
I nodded.
“That is understandable.”
He stood again.
“I should go.”
“Graham.”
He stopped.
“Please don’t let Paige make you believe that my leaving means I don’t love you.”
He looked at me.
“I won’t.”
“And please don’t make promises to her using money that isn’t yours.”
His face tightened.
“I haven’t.”
“Good.”
He reached the door.
Then he turned around.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Do you think we can ever be a family again?”
I looked at my son.
“We never stopped being a family.”
He seemed relieved.
“But we have to learn how to be one without making someone smaller.”
He nodded.
Then he left.
That afternoon, Claire called.
“There has been a development,” she said.
“What kind?”
“Your son has asked whether the company would consider selling the property to him.”
I sat down.
“Did he offer a price?”
“Yes.”
“Did he have financing?”
“No.”
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, I felt tired.
Not angry.
Just tired.
“Claire,” I said, “please make sure all communication goes through the proper channels.”
“Of course.”
“And don’t give him special treatment because he’s my son.”
“I understand.”
That evening, Ruth and I ate soup on the porch.
She watched me carefully.
“Are you going to help them?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you want to?”
I looked toward the road.
“I want my son to be safe.”
“That isn’t the same thing.”
“No.”
I took a breath.
“I also want him to learn.”
Ruth nodded.
Then my phone rang.
This time, it was an unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?”
A man’s voice said, “Mrs. Mercer? My name is Daniel Price. I used to work with your husband.”
I sat upright.
“Thomas?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry. How did you get my number?”
“Martin Hale gave it to me. He said you might want to hear something about T&E.”
I looked at Ruth.
“What is it?”
There was a pause.
“Your husband left something behind.”
My heart began beating faster.
“What kind of something?”
“A letter.”
I gripped the phone.
“Where is it?”
“That’s the problem. It was never delivered.”
One Comment on “PART 4 — THE PEOPLE WHO CAME KNOCKING Ruth was in the kitchen when the knock came. I had barely finished my coffee. “Are you expecting anyone?” she asked.”