Chapter 11 - My daughters come home
Denise called from Paris on the third day.
Not to apologize.
Because her household expense card stopped working.
“Mom?”
“Yes.”
“What did you do?”
“Canceled my card.”
“You embarrassed me.”
“You have your own cards.”
“That’s not the point.”
“What is?”
“We had an arrangement.”
“The arrangement ended.”
She lowered her voice.
“Are you with Martin?”
“Yes.”
“I knew it.”
“Then why ask?”
“He is turning you against us.”
“No.”
“Mom, you don’t understand what he’s doing.”
“What is he doing?”
“Taking control.”
I looked at Martin across his conference room.
Speakerphone.
He raised one eyebrow.
I said:
“Interesting theory.”
Denise continued:
“You need us.”
“No.”
“You can’t even handle the Social Security problem.”
“There is no Social Security problem.”
“Lauren has your card.”
“Without permission.”
Silence.
Then:
“You gave it to her.”
“No.”
“She says you did.”
“I did not.”
Another silence.
“Mom, don’t start making accusations you can’t take back.”
There.
The tone changed.
Not daughter.
Negotiator.
I said:
“Enjoy Paris.”
Then hung up.
Lauren texted twenty minutes later.
You’re making this ugly for no reason.
I did not answer.
When they returned six days later, both had attorneys.
May you like
Good.
We were finally going to speak in complete sentences.
