Chapter 9 - COLE KNEW ABOUT THE APPRAISALDorothy waited until dinner.
Three place settings.
No guests.
She chose the dining room because it was impossible for anyone to pretend the conversation had started accidentally.
Cole sat.
Sabrina poured wine.
Dorothy did not.
She placed the realtor’s business card on the table.
“Tell me everything.”
Sabrina sighed.
“Again?”
“Yes.”
Cole looked tired.
Dorothy did not care.
“Did you know Megan was coming?”
“Yes.”
“Did you invite her?”
“Yes.”
“Did you discuss a sale?”
“Potentially.”
“You said yesterday it was only information.”
“It was.”
“Did you discuss timing?”
Cole hesitated.
“Yes.”
“How soon?”
“Six months.”
Dorothy’s face remained still.
Sabrina cut in.
“Hypothetically.”
Dorothy looked at her.
“No one asked you.”
Sabrina’s jaw tightened.
Cole continued.
“We thought if you wanted to move—”
“You thought I wanted to move?”
“We thought you might.”
“Why?”
“Because you complain about the stairs.”
“I complain about the stairs when I carry laundry.”
“Exactly.”
Dorothy almost laughed.
“I complain about traffic too. Shall I sell my car?”
Cole sighed.
“Mom.”
“No.”
She leaned forward.
“Did you ask about power of attorney?”
Silence.
Sabrina looked at Cole.
Cole’s face changed.
“How do you know?”
“I spoke to Megan.”
He looked angry.
At her.
Not himself.
“You called her?”
“Yes.”
“She didn’t need to involve you.”
Dorothy stared.
“I own the house.”
Cole froze.
He had heard himself.
Dorothy continued.
“You discussed selling my house and now you’re angry the realtor spoke to me.”
“I didn’t mean that.”
“What did you mean?”
Silence.
Sabrina set down her glass.
“We were planning for the future.”
Dorothy turned.
“Whose future?”
“Ours.”
At least Sabrina told the truth.
Dorothy nodded slowly.
“Thank you.”
Cole looked at his wife.
Sabrina continued.
“You asked.”
“Yes.”
“We need to plan.”
“You need to plan around your own assets.”
“Our lives are connected.”
“Not financially in the way you seem to believe.”
Sabrina laughed.
“Rosehaven will go somewhere someday.”
Dorothy’s blood ran cold.
Someday.
After Dorothy died.
The thought sat openly between them.
Sabrina realized too late.
Dorothy looked at Cole.
He did not correct her.
That hurt more.
“You’ve been planning around my death.”
“No.”
“Then explain.”
Cole leaned forward.
“Mom, everyone does estate planning.”
“Estate planning is done by the person whose estate it is.”
He looked away.
Dorothy sat back.
“I understand now.”
“What?”
“You weren’t trying to help me choose a future.”
She looked at both of them.
May you like
“You were trying to make sure my future matched yours.”
No one answered.
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