I took his hand and begged him not to do this anymore. He promised to quit but we both knew it was a lie.
I told him to go rest and that I would call him when dinner was ready. I went back to cooking but Rosie’s words echoed in my head.
I knew Melinda’s anger would eventually spill over onto me. Dinner was eaten in an oppressive silence.
Phillip barely touched his food. Skyler tried to lighten the mood but quickly gave up.
After dinner, I washed dishes while Phillip watched TV. Melinda returned around ten and she was not alone.
She was laughing with a woman named Jessica. Melinda said Phillip was probably asleep and the old woman was unlikely to stick her nose out.
I stood frozen in my bedroom doorway. I wondered if she was talking about me.
Jessica asked if it was cramped living with her husband’s mother. Melinda said it was temporary because they had almost saved enough for a house.
She was lying. Melinda said I stick my nose into everything and that I was a grandmother stereotype.
Jessica said her mother in law was a headache too. They both laughed and a lump rose in my throat.
Melinda said the hardest part was pretending to appreciate my favors like laundry and cleaning. Jessica asked why she did not just move out.
Melinda sighed and mentioned the cost of housing. She said they had to put up with the old burden for now.
I quietly closed my bedroom door and sat on the edge of the bed. My hands were trembling but I did not let the tears fall.
I looked at my hands and remembered how they held newborns and closed the eyes of the dying. Melinda thought they were just tools for serving her family.
Rosie’s voice echoed in my mind again. Something cracked inside me like ice on a river.
The week after that conversation dragged by. Melinda’s words rang in my ears every time I saw her.
On Friday evening, I was dusting the living room when Melinda came home early. She said we needed to talk.
I set down the duster and asked if something happened. She said she got a promotion and was now the manager of the laundry chain.
I told her congratulations. She said she had to do some work from home and needed a home office.
She said she was thinking about using my room. I froze and asked where I was supposed to sleep.
Melinda shrugged and suggested the storage room. She said it was too big for one person and I only slept there anyway.
A wave of anger rose in me. I said I needed to think about it.
Melinda smiled condescendingly and said she wanted to start rearranging tomorrow. She had already ordered the furniture.
I asked if she discussed this with Phillip. She said he was all for it and that it was their chance to get back on their feet.
I said I would talk to him. Phillip came home later and I asked if he agreed to put me in a storage room.
He lowered his eyes and said it was only temporary. He said they would make it comfortable with a nice bed.
I sighed and said it was about respect. This was my house and I was still paying the mortgage.
Phillip said he was trying to provide for his family. He said the promotion was their chance to make things right.
I asked how long that would take. I asked when he would do something for himself instead of just indulging Melinda.
He fell silent. I told him to talk to Melinda.
The next morning, I woke to the sound of furniture being moved. I asked what was going on.
Melinda said they were getting ready to rearrange. Phillip avoided my gaze.
I said I had not given my consent. Melinda snapped that there was no time because she needed to start work on Monday.
I told them not to touch anything in my room. I went back to my room and felt strangely liberated.
By evening, I still had not made a final decision. Skyler brought me some tea and said it was not fair.
She said they could not force me into the storage room. I said I had led them to believe I would give in.
Skyler hoped I would not this time. Melinda walked in without a knock.
She told Skyler to go help her father with the boxes. Melinda began measuring the wall.
I said the answer was no. Melinda froze and said it was not up for discussion.
I told her to find another solution. She asked if she should take the children’s rooms.
She said I was retired and only needed a closet. Skyler was shocked by the bluntness.
Melinda told her to go to her father. Skyler said she was staying with me because it was my room.
Phillip appeared in the doorway. Melinda said I refused to move for the sake of my junk.
She pointed to the records. I said it was not junk but my life with George.
Melinda suggested selling them because we needed the money. I said I would not sell my memories.
Melinda said she was going to get her office even if she had to take the junk to the dump. She grabbed a rare album.
I told her not to dare touch it. Melinda laughed and said I was too scared to be alone.
She said I was only living there because they put up with me. The silence was deafening.
I asked what she said. Melinda repeated that it was their home now and I was just an old woman clinging to the past.
I told her she was right about facing the truth. I reminded her that I paid for this apartment and they moved in because Phillip lost his money.
Melinda went pale. I told Phillip that I was done being a doormat.
I took the record back from her and said no one touches my things. I told them to find somewhere else to live if they did not like it.
I went to my room and felt strangely calm. I looked at the old photo album and remembered the day we bought the apartment in 1987.
George and I worked so hard for this. We did all the renovations ourselves.
We had housewarming parties and bought records every month. Now Melinda wanted to throw it all away.
I decided to go to the bank and a lawyer. The bank teller said I had only three payments left on the mortgage.
The lawyer said I had the legal right to ask them to leave. He called it emotional mistreatment.
I told the family that I was going to spend a week with Rosie. Melinda was furious because she wanted me to cook and clean.
Phillip apologized, but I told him apologies only matter when they are followed by change. I spent a wonderful week with Rosie.
Chloe called every night and said they missed me. I returned with an official notice to vacate.
I handed the envelope to Phillip. Melinda screamed that I could not make them leave.
I told her that thirty days was more than the law required. I offered the children the choice to stay with me.
Skyler and Jace both chose to stay. Melinda stormed out while Phillip followed her.
I was left with my grandchildren. I put on a record by a jazz artist that George loved.
I started dancing in the living room. Skyler said she had not seen me dance in years.
I told her it was time to remember how. I was finally back to the real me.
THE END.
