Chapter 3 - The Family Dinner
Walking back up the steps of my own house at six o'clock that evening felt like entering an enemy fortress. The air was thick with the scent of pot roast, but the atmosphere was entirely artificial. The moment I stepped through the door, Courtney rushed forward with a fake, beaming smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Eleanor! Oh, thank goodness you're back!" she exclaimed, reaching out to hug me. I stiffened, refusing to wrap my arms around her. She didn't seem to care, pulling back to look at my purse. "You look... well rested. Did you stay at a shelter?"
"I managed," I replied quietly, stepping into the living room.
Brandon was sitting on the sofa, a glass of expensive scotch in his hand—no doubt bought with the grocery money I had given him last week. He stood up, looking slightly uncomfortable but masking it quickly with an air of entitlement. "Hey, Mom. Glad you made the smart choice. Sit down, let's eat."
During dinner, my grandchildren, Lily and ten-year-old Toby, sat quietly. They looked at me with wide, worried eyes. I realized with a pang of sorrow that their parents had probably told them horrible lies about me. I reached over and gently patted Lily's hand, giving her a reassuring wink. She smiled faintly, looking relieved.
"So, Eleanor," Courtney started, setting her fork down with a sharp clink. "Did you bring the bank envelope? The real estate agent needs the proof of funds verified tonight so we can finalize the sale of... I mean, the purchase of our new boutique building tomorrow."
"I have the funds safely secured," I said, keeping my purse tightly zipped in my lap. "But before I hand over forty-one years of my hard work, I want to see the contract for this new business. I want to know exactly where my retirement money is going."
Brandon scoffed, but Courtney quickly kicked his leg under the table. She pulled a thick document from her designer handbag and slid it across the table toward me. "Of course! We are completely transparent, Eleanor. It’s a joint venture. Once we buy the downtown property and sell this... old place, we’ll be millionaires. You’ll never have to worry about a thing."
I flipped through the pages, pretending to read the dense legal jargon, though James had already briefed me on what it would contain. It was a predatory contract. If I signed my money over as a 'silent partner' as they wrote, I would waive all rights to any returns or profits, effectively giving them a non-repayable gift.
"This looks very official," I said, putting the document into my purse. "I'll keep this tonight to review the final clauses. Tomorrow morning, when you meet with your real estate buyer, I will meet you there with the bank draft."
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Brandon’s face lit up with greed. "Awesome, Mom. The meeting is at ten AM at the Apex Development offices downtown. Don't be late. This is the turning point for our family."
"Yes," I murmured, looking around the dining room, at the walls I had painted myself, at the crown molding Arthur and I had installed together. "It certainly is a turning point."
