Chapter 3 - MAYBE SHE’S RIGHTDorothy did not open the envelope that night.
Not because she was afraid of what was inside.
She already knew.
Her attorney had explained every page.
She left it sealed because the physical envelope was doing something useful.
It was making Sabrina nervous.
That was information.
After changing clothes, Dorothy went downstairs.
Cole and Sabrina were in the kitchen.
They stopped speaking when she entered.
Dorothy poured herself tea.
Sabrina watched.
Finally Cole spoke.
“Mom, we need to clear the air.”
Dorothy sat.
“Go ahead.”
Sabrina remained standing.
Cole pulled out a chair.
“This can’t continue.”
“What?”
“All this tension.”
Dorothy looked at him.
“You mean the tension that began when your wife told me not to return?”
Sabrina scoffed.
“You walked in acting like you own every inch.”
Dorothy turned slowly.
“I do.”
Sabrina laughed.
“See?”
Cole put a hand up.
“Stop.”
Dorothy waited.
Which woman was he asking to stop?
He looked at his mother.
Of course.
“Mom, maybe Sabrina has a point.”
Dorothy felt something inside her go cold.
“She has a point.”
“Yes.”
“What point?”
Cole exhaled.
“The last few weeks were peaceful.”
Dorothy stared.
“You were happier without me.”
“That’s not what I said.”
“It is exactly what you said.”
“No. I mean Sabrina and I finally had room to live like a married couple.”
“You have your own condo.”
“We’ve been staying here because—”
“Because your kitchen renovation went over schedule.”
“And because you needed help.”
“I did not need help.”
“You’re sixty-eight.”
Dorothy’s eyes narrowed.
“And?”
Cole immediately realized his mistake.
“Nothing.”
“No. Finish.”
He looked away.
Sabrina stepped in.
“You’re not young anymore.”
Dorothy turned toward her.
“Neither are you, compared to someone who is twenty.”
Sabrina’s mouth tightened.
“My point is Rosehaven is a large property.”
“And?”
“It doesn’t make sense.”
“For whom?”
“Anyone.”
Dorothy looked at Cole.
“You agree?”
He hesitated.
That was enough.
“Maybe,” he said, “you would be happier somewhere smaller.”
“Such as?”
“An apartment.”
“No.”
“Or staying part-time with Jonah.”
“No.”
“Or a good senior community.”
Dorothy stared at him.
Cole’s face flushed.
“Not a nursing home.”
“I know what you mean.”
“There are beautiful places.”
“I’m sure.”
“Mom.”
“You seem to have researched this.”
Neither answered.
Dorothy’s stomach tightened.
“Have you?”
Sabrina looked away.
Cole said, “We’ve discussed options.”
“We.”
“Yes.”
“Without me.”
“We didn’t want to upset you.”
Dorothy almost laughed.
“Thoughtful.”
Cole rubbed his hands together.
“Look, nobody is trying to take anything.”
“Then why is my closet half-empty?”
Silence.
“Why were my photographs boxed?”
No answer.
“Why was my husband’s photograph face down?”
Sabrina folded her arms.
“It didn’t fit the room.”
Dorothy looked at her.
For the first time that day, real anger rose.
Not loud.
Not wild.
Deep.
“You do not decide whether my dead husband fits in the house he bought with me.”
Cole winced.
“Mom.”
“No.”
She looked at her son.
“You stood there while she humiliated me.”
His face changed.
“You looked at the floor.”
“I didn’t want to make it worse.”
“For whom?”
Silence.
Dorothy nodded.
“That’s what I thought.”
She stood.
Cole followed.
“What’s in the envelope?”
Sabrina’s eyes sharpened.
Dorothy picked up her handbag.
“Why are you so interested?”
“We’re not.”
Sabrina answered too quickly.
Dorothy looked at her.
“You are.”
Sabrina’s jaw tightened.
Dorothy smiled faintly.
“Good night.”
Cole called after her.
“Mom.”
She stopped.
He looked suddenly younger.
Almost frightened.
“Are you changing the will?”
Dorothy stared at him.
Then something broke completely.
Not because he asked.
Because that was what he feared.
Not losing his mother.
Losing something after she died.
Dorothy’s voice became very quiet.
“Good night, Cole.”
She went upstairs.
And behind her, Sabrina whispered:
“I told you.”
Dorothy heard.
Cole answered:
“Not now.”
She kept walking.
But those three words followed her all the way to her bedroom.
May you like
I told you.
They had been talking about something long before she came home.
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