Chapter 4 - JUNIPER RETURNS THE MEDAL
Juniper arrived at my door with her father, Owen, three days after the party.
Sancia and Owen had been divorced for two years.
He had not attended because it was Sancia’s family event.
He looked embarrassed.
Juniper held a small paper bag.
“What’s that?”
She handed it to Maelle.
Inside:
The blue achievement medal.
The ribbon was wrinkled.
Maelle looked at her.
“You wore it.”
Juniper’s eyes filled.
“Mom put it on.”
“I know.”
Then:
“I didn’t want it.”
Maelle examined the medal.
“Okay.”
That was all.
No speech about forgiveness.
Then Juniper pulled another object from her pocket.
A piece of red ribbon.
The broken half from Maelle’s citizenship medal.
“I found this under the table.”
Maelle took it.
“Thanks.”
Then they went upstairs.
I looked at Owen.
“Did Sancia tell Juniper the house is hers?”
He sighed.
“She told her Grandma is moving permanently and Sancia is taking over the property.”
“Did she say she owns it?”
“Yes.”
There.
“What did you think?”
“I thought Eleanor transferred it.”
“Why?”
“Sancia said papers were signed.”
No one verified.
Again.
Then Owen said:
“She asked me if I wanted to rent the upstairs after you left.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“She said once the house was sold or restructured, she might keep it as a rental.”
“Sold or kept?”
“That’s why I was confused.”
Good.
Sancia herself had not settled on one story.
Then:
“Did she mention assisted living?”
“Yes.”
That was new.
“She said Eleanor would be safer near her.”
Sancia lived near a private assisted-living community called Linden Court.
Expensive.
Nice.
Eleanor had toured it once and said:
“I’d rather live in a tent.”
Not subtle.
Then Owen said:
“Sancia thinks your mom is being manipulated into going home because you live there.”
My jaw tightened.
“By me?”
“Yes.”
There.
The property fight was not simply greed.
Sancia believed I benefited from Eleanor staying home.
Maybe she believed I would influence future estate decisions.
Maybe she wanted control first.
Still.
Then Juniper came downstairs.
Maelle behind her.
“Can Juniper stay?”
I looked at Owen.
He nodded.
Sancia’s current no-contact condition from the assault case applied to Maelle, not Juniper.
I almost said no because Juniper belonged to Sancia’s household half the week.
Then stopped.
Juniper had done nothing.
“Two hours.”
Both girls cheered.
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Small correction.
No child should lose a cousin because adults are fighting over deeds.
