“It’s the same signature.”
“No.”
Daniel’s voice hardened.
“It isn’t the same permission.”
Vanessa looked around.
“You’re all being dramatic.”
I asked:
“What happens to this house after I move?”
She turned toward me.
“We renovate.”
“We?”
“Daniel and me.”
“Why?”
“Because this place needs work.”
“It does?”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
She glanced at the real estate agent.
“Maybe refinance.”
“For what?”
“The wedding.”
My daughter almost laughed.
“You want Dad to leave so you can borrow against his house to pay for your wedding?”
Vanessa flushed.
“That isn’t what I said.”
“It sounded exactly like what you said.”
Vanessa’s mother intervened.
“Everyone needs to calm down.”
Then she looked at me.
“Robert, at your age, you should be thinking about the next generation.”
I nodded.
“I have.”
Vanessa smiled.
Encouraged again.
“I’m not going to become an unpaid caregiver for an old man.”
Silence.
She folded her arms.
“He is Daniel’s burden.”
My daughter stared at her.
Arthur slowly removed his glasses.
The real estate agent looked like he wanted to crawl beneath the table.
Daniel finally raised his eyes.
“Are you absolutely sure?”
Vanessa looked at him.
“About what?”
“That my father is a burden.”
“Yes.”
“Absolutely?”
She lifted her chin.
“Absolutely.”
Daniel reached inside his jacket.
Removed the white envelope.
Vanessa saw it.
Her entire expression changed.
For months she had been waiting for paperwork.
Property.
Refinancing.
Maybe some kind of transfer.
She smiled.
Daniel slid the envelope toward her.
“Open it.”
She did.
The smile lasted until she saw the airline logo.
Then it disappeared.
“What is this?”
“Your flight.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“Phoenix?”
“Six twenty tomorrow morning.”
She pulled out the itinerary.
“One-way?”
“Yes.”
Her mother frowned.
“What’s going on?”
Daniel answered without looking away from Vanessa.
“Mom can decide whether she wants you staying with her.”
Vanessa laughed nervously.
“You’re kidding.”
“No.”
She removed the second document.
Wedding cancellation.
Then venue cancellation confirmation.
Then notice that her permission to remain in my house had been withdrawn and that arrangements for collecting her belongings would be handled appropriately.
Then the evidence index.
Recordings.
Nursing-home application.
Real estate communications.
Her face went white.
“What the hell is this?”
Daniel leaned back.
“The only relocation plan happening this weekend.”
Vanessa looked at me.
Hatred flashed instantly.
“You did this.”
Daniel stood.
“No.”
She ignored him.
“You manipulated him.”
“My father didn’t have to manipulate me.”
Daniel’s voice changed.