After my father died, my husband Jason, our daughter Emma, my stepmother Lorraine, and I all lived in his home. A few weeks ago, I was putting Jason’s clothing away when I noticed a box in his closet. Inside was a transparent lace robe. I remained silent because I assumed it was a surprise for me. Fast forward to last weekend. Lorraine ushered me into her room, grinning smugly. “Oh, sweetheart, you won’t believe what MY NEW BOYFRIEND got me,” remarked the woman.
When I walked in, my jaw dropped to the floor. She wore Jason’s lacy robe. “You like it?” she inquired, smirking. “He has exquisite taste.” Her eyes gleamed with hate. I froze, my mind spinning. Was Jason cheating on me? With HER? I stammered, “Where did you get that?”. Lorraine’s smirk deepened. “Oh, my boyfriend gave it to me,” she explained. “I told you, Calla! You’re not listening to anything I say, dear! Don’t worry, you might receive one too. Anyway, he is discrete.”
I stumbled out of the room, her laugh booming behind me. My heart was beating, and my hands shook. “Jason,” I said, my voice trembling. “I need to ask you something, and I want the truth.””What’s wrong, honey?” he inquired. “Hang on, let me pause this movie.” “Did you…?” Have you given Lorraine a robe? “The lace one I discovered in your closet?” “What? No way! “What are you talking about?”
“She showed me a robe before dinner tonight,” I replied, tears threatening to fall. “The same one I found in your closet.” “Do you think I would get her something like that? “Are you serious now?” “Then how did she get it?” I demanded. “I don’t know,” he admitted, running his hand through his hair. “I don’t know what to say,” I admitted. Doubt gnawed at me.
“I swear, I did not give her anything! Seriously, Calla. I just gave Lorraine a piece of garlic bread for dinner today.” Over the next two days, I couldn’t shake my unease. Then, one afternoon, while organizing Emma’s painting supplies in the dining room, I overheard Lorraine on the phone.”Yes, Kerry, of course, I planted it,” she said quietly. “Her dumb husband didn’t notice. It’s only a matter of time before they start fighting. After they leave, this house will finally be mine. That is why they moved in. “They want my house.”
She had planned it! She had placed the robe in Jason’s closet to make it appear as if they were having an affair. She tried to drive us out of the house my father had left behind. That night, I informed Jason what I had overheard. His face was clouded with rage. “She’s trying to ruin our marriage,” he replied. “And you think we uprooted Emma for this? “This is over now.”
My husband and I devised a plan.The next morning, during breakfast, I casually remarked to Lorraine that Jason and I were thinking about moving out. Her face lights up. “Oh, well, if you think that’s best…” she responded, scarcely holding her joy. That evening, we had a lawyer acquaintance around for supper, who Lorraine did not recognize. We told her he was a “realtor” helping us find new homes, but all we wanted to know was where we stood. Lorraine spent most of the supper discussing how much she wanted to live alone.
“I’m old now,” she admitted. “I need my space. And I’m sure your children require yours. Don’t you want to give Emma a baby brother or sister? Jason had convinced me to fight. “Come on, honey,” he asked. “It is critical for you to have a portion of your father’s legacy. You are his legacy, indeed. But he created it with his own hands. This house has been around since you were a child. Do you truly want Lorraine to have it?
“I don’t know,” I replied. “Honestly, I’m not sure what I want.” Seven days later, we scheduled a “family meeting” in the living room.Jason gave Lorraine a stack of papers. “What’s this?” she inquired, flipping through the pages. “It’s the deed to the house,” Jason answered quietly. “We had everything evaluated, and it turns out that Calla and I are the main beneficiaries. You don’t own this house, Lorraine. We do.”
Lorraine’s face became pallid. “That is not feasible. Calla! What have you done? “Your father would not abandon me with nothing…” “He didn’t leave you with nothing, Lorraine,” I corrected myself. “He left you with a large sum of money.” But this was my childhood home. Of course, he’d like me to have it.” Lorraine began to resist. “And before you think of performing another trick, remember this: we are not going anywhere. “But you might want to start packing,” Jason said.
“Or you can see if your boyfriend will take you in?” I replied lightly. Lorraine stammered. “What? “There is no boyfriend?” I asked. “I planned it! I staged the whole thing! There is no boyfriend for Calla. There is no cheating, as I wanted you to believe. “I wanted you to see the robe and suspect something was going on.” “I know,” I replied. “I heard you. But, look, you’ve got a week. “I’ll give you that because it’s what my father would expect of me.”
“I will be better. I’ll do everything—cooking, cleaning, helping Emma with her homework, you name it!” she begged. “I don’t want my child around you,” I explained simply. “I’m sorry, but that’s just how I feel.” Lorraine left within a week. And I finally found tranquility in the home that my father had cherished.