I just sat in my armchair, hiding a smile behind my book.
I had learned more about setting boundaries in the last three days than I had in the last 30 years.
I was officially done playing the selfless, endlessly sacrificing mother.
I knew my worth now.
And while my value couldn’t be measured in dollars, without it, their little house of cards was going to collapse.
The next few days passed in a tense, awkward silence.
I played my part perfectly.
I kept my spaces spotless. I was painfully polite, but I didn’t lift a finger to help them.
On Friday evening, an incident finally made Sloan realize the rules of the game had permanently changed.
Her mother had come over for a visit.
They were sitting out on the patio when Sloan yelled through the screen door, “Ela, could you bring out some wine and some appetizers? My mom would love some of that baked brie you make.”
I stepped out onto the patio empty-handed.
“Hi, Mrs. Davis,” I greeted her mother cordially.
Then I turned to Sloan.
“I didn’t make any brie today. And the wine in the cellar is my personal stash. I’ve already boxed it up for my move. I’m sure you can find something at the grocery store, though.”
Sloan’s face turned bright red.
“What the hell is your problem lately? You’ve gotten so unbelievably selfish.”
I kept my voice perfectly level.
“I call it personal responsibility, Sloan. You wanted clear financial boundaries. We’re just enforcing them.”
I turned on my heel and walked back to my room.
Once inside, I waited for the moving company to call.
“Monday morning, 8:00 a.m. Perfect,” I confirmed quietly.
I had already packed up my most cherished heirlooms, my grandmother’s antique china, Warren’s first-edition books, and the good silver into plain cardboard boxes that I labeled “Goodwill donations.”
Gavin and Sloan were way too wrapped up in their own drama to notice that the house was slowly being stripped of its soul.
They only saw what was right in front of them.
They had no idea I already had the keys to my lakehouse sitting in my purse.
I didn’t even feel sorry for Gavin.
He had stood by and let his wife try to squeeze me out of my own home just to avoid an argument.
If he didn’t want the responsibility of standing up for his mother, he was going to have to learn the responsibility of maintaining a home.