I brought my family under one roof in the hopes of spending time together. But that night, I overheard whispering behind closed doors about plans, hidden intentions, and betrayals. So I created new terms for my inheritance that they couldn’t ignore. I’ve always thought that in old age, you have just two options: become a peaceful, lovely grandmother who sits in a rocking chair, bakes pies, and gives candy to her grandchildren, or become a cunning schemer who never lets her family relax for a moment. Without a doubt, I belonged to the second group.
I was 78, wore designer robes, drank fresh juice in the morning, snowboarded whenever I wanted, and knew that even at my age, life could be managed. The key was to play your cards right. But lately, my children have been acting as if I don’t exist. My grandchildren never came to me because they were afraid that my influence would change their attitude toward their parents. Meanwhile…
I shuffled the cards in my living room, while my “girls” kept me busy with their banter while we waited to play bridge. Dolly was once again complaining about how her secret admirer kept leaving her flowers without a letter. “I can’t take it anymore!” She rolled her eyes, clutching her chest. “This is unbearable!” “The man is playing a strange game.” Margo, who had no stomach for bullshit, just scoffed. “The same one as last time?”
“Or maybe another one!” Maybe I am a magnet for love!” I flipped the cards over in my palms and stared at Margo. “You do realize she orders them for herself, right?” “Oh, absolutely,” she said, putting down her coffee. “Very funny!” Dolly gave me an irritated expression. “But, for the record, this is not about me!” Tell me, how are your children? I shrugged. “Alive and healthy. Theoretically. They don’t remember me very often, and I’m not sure whether they really recognize my appearance.”
“And Gregory?” Margo lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, ‘Mr. Grizzly’ is in his typical state. Sits at home, complaining about life’s inequities. I put my cards on the table. Margo chuckled as Dolly added another sugar cube to her coffee. “And Veronica, his wife?” “‘Hashtag’?” I smirked. “She’s so busy creating the ideal life for social media that I’m not sure she remembers how to hold a real conversation. But she is the one who keeps the family afloat with advertising contracts. A man dressed in a robe while his wife performs on stage. “It’s like an upside-down world.”
“And your daughter, Belinda?” I halted. “Belinda… As always, she is attempting to ensure that everyone’s life around her aligns with her ideal of perfect order. There is no family, no children, and no sign of a bond.” Margo set down her cards and gazed at me intently. “What about your grandchildren?” “Mia, Theo?” “‘Hon’ is probably somewhere barefoot in the mountains, showing the trees how to meditate properly. Instead of studying or attending parties, she is entirely immersed in her meditations.” “She had some theory that objects have memory, didn’t she?”
“Oh, yeah. Also, they hear us when we holler at them. “I once scolded the microwave, and it ignored me for the entire day.” “And what about Scooter, your little detective?” I smiled. “The only man in my family who still has some common sense.” “He’s still a spy?” “A spy. “We are conducting active investigations.” “And what is he investigating?” “When I last saw him, he was digging beneath the couch with a magnifying glass. “I’m not sure if he’s gathering evidence or just trying to entertain me.” “I love him!” Dolly theatrically placed her palms over her heart. “Does he know you’re his only ally?”
I sighed and shuffled the deck again. “He still thinks I’m the prime suspect.” Margo leaned nearer and narrowed her gaze. “Vivi, you’re up to something.” “Oh, more than you know,” I explained, laying down the cards in front of me. “If my children don’t notice me while I’m alive, then I’ll have to make sure they can’t ignore me.” I raised a glass of grapefruit juice. The bitterness sent chills down my spine. I opened my lips to add something else, but then a piercing pain pierced my chest. My vision faded, the room tilted, and Dolly screamed:
“Call an ambulance!” Now!” I lay on the hospital bed, snuggled in a nice blanket, listening to the doctor explain something to my pals. His speech floated through the air like a muted mist. “Her condition is stable, but at her age, she needs to be very careful,” he continued, flipping through some documents. Dolly stood beside me, squeezing her hands together in exaggerated sorrow, as if she were preparing to deliver the awful news to the entire world.
“She’s so active, doctor!” she exclaimed, sighing dramatically. “Will she… be able to live as she did before?” “She needs to rest. There is no tension and only mild stress. Of course, she should be surrounded by her family. I spotted Margo’s gaze at Dolly. “We’re staying with you for the weekend,” Dolly said, meeting my eyes as if daring me to disagree. “Just to make sure everything is truly under control,” she explained. “We need to call your family. They should be present with you. “Who knows how much time…?”
“Dolly, don’t overdo it,” I said pointedly. However, something in her remarks caused me to hesitate. My condition required attention. But no medical treatment. Family attention. If it were up to them, they would not have questioned if I was still breathing when I was transported to the hospital. But at that point… So, I could remind them of who I was. “You’re right,” I muttered. “I do need them here.”
Dolly clasped her hands together. “Oh, finally, you admit it!” Margo nodded with delight. “This is what we will do. We will contact them ourselves. If you question both children at once, they will think you are exaggerating. So we will deliver individual messages to everyone of them.” Dolly lifted her finger dramatically. “We’ll advise them to pack for a month! “Just in case…” I gave her a long, doubtful look. “Dolly, you’re enjoying this way more than you should.”
“I’m just a dramatic woman, what can I say?” Margo had already pulled out her phone and turned the screen towards me: “Belinda, I recently returned from the hospital. My condition is quite unstable. I do not want to worry you, but I am terrified. Please come. “I want you here.” I nodded in agreement. “Now, Gregory,” Dolly stated, already typing. I looked at the message she had written. A little, contented smirk appeared on my lips.
“Perfect.” My family was already on the road. They had no idea what awaited them. I sank into my bed, neatly wrapped in a cashmere throw. The living room was a hive of activity, with everyone playing their part. The door creaked open, and Belinda was the first to come inside. “Mom, how are you?” I gave out a quiet sigh. “As well as can be expected, dear…” Gregory appeared at the doorway just after her. “Mom…” “Oh, my boy,” I whispered.
My grandchildren rushed in behind them. Mia placed down a tiny fabric purse, took out a number of incense sticks, and began scattering them over the room. “This is to clear the place, Grandma. Hospitals contain a lot of energy. Gregory rolled his eyes, but Mia dismissed him and lighted one. Meanwhile, Theo opened open his notebook, pen ready. “I’m going to figure out exactly what happened and how to fix your condition.”
“Theo, stop making up stories,” Veronica said without looking up, already adjusting her phone for the greatest filming angle. “My heart has been acting up lately, children.” I stopped before adding, with my customary cynicism, “Of course, it may be an allergic reaction to being ignored for months. “Hard to say.” Silence. “I can hire you a private nurse,” Veronica suggested. Gregory was pacing back and forth while on the phone, presumably hunting for the “best cardiologist.” Belinda, ever the planner, was already planning 10 steps ahead.
“Mom, I will handle your medical arrangements. We will discover the best specialists. I’m even considering a heart transplant.
Gregory was pacing back and forth while on the phone, presumably hunting for the “best cardiologist.” Belinda, ever the planner, was already planning 10 steps ahead. “Mom, I will handle your medical arrangements. We will discover the best specialists. I’m even considering a heart transplant.
Belinda immediately tensed. “Mom, if you are okay, you have your friends with you. I have some critical meetings… I will stop by tomorrow.” Gregory murmured something beneath his breath. I took a long, slow breath before saying, “If you wish to leave, the door is open. But I’m not sure how much time I have left, and all I want is one night with my family. Silence. Belinda breathed and gave a slight nod. “Of course, Mom.” Gregory massaged the back of his neck. “Fine. Please tell me where I’m sleeping.”
“In your old room, of course.” “Oh, fantastic,” he moaned. “My 52 y/o back will be thrilled about that wooden torture device you call a bed.” Veronica folded her arms. “Does the Wi-Fi at least work properly?” “Do not worry, sweetheart. I made certain you would not have to endure the miseries of an offline existence.” Following a brief dinner, everyone dispersed to their rooms. Later that night, when I was about to say goodnight to my grandchildren, I came to a halt in mid-step. Something moved down the hall. At first, I assumed it was Bugsy, my cat, but then I heard muffled voices. I approached, silent as a shadow. Gregory’s door was slightly open.
“We need to find out if she’s already changed the documents,” Veronica said quietly. “We can’t just ask!” Gregory snapped. “If she hasn’t rewritten the will yet, you know who everything is going to…” I pursed my lips. Interesting. I crept further down the hall and heard Belinda’s voice coming from her room. “I can’t meet you right now. “If Mom suspects something, everything falls apart. A shiver went down my spine. Belinda, what would fall apart?
v
Suddenly, a little shadow darted past me. Theo! He froze when he realized I had noticed him. “And what exactly are you doing, Scooter?” “Investigating.” I looked down at his open notebook. 1. Mom and Dad are whispering about Granny. 2. Belinda cancelled a covert meeting. 3. Grandma Vivi is playing cards. I smiled. I wanted to gather my family together for one evening, but I wasn’t sure whether I knew them well. Their secrets seemed hazardous. “Go to bed, Scooter.” I will check in with you and Mia later.”
I turned back to my room. There was just one thing left to do. The next morning, everyone sat at the table, eating and making small chat, as nothing had happened. But I knew. They were merely waiting to drink their coffee, make their explanations, and resume their meticulously planned lives. What they didn’t realize was that I had a very different plan for them. I folded my napkin and carefully placed it on the table.
“I’ve decided what to do next.” Belinda put her fork down. “About what, Mom?” “About the will.” Gregory choked on his coffee. I raised my gaze. “The people who will inherit my fortune will be the ones who choose to spend my final days with me.” Veronica slipped a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, that’s… interesting.”
“So, if you want to stay, stay. However, there are rules in this house. We have breakfast and dinner together. We provide updates. We spend time together as a family.
A pause. Belinda sent an anxious glance at Gregory. “I think it’s reasonable.” “Fine. Gregory sighed, “I’m in.” “Besides, the children have been longing to spend time here. Perhaps Mia will finally study for her tests. And Theo… Well, he’s free to let his imagination run wild.” I turned to face my grandchildren. “Are you two staying?” “Absolutely!” Theo grinned. “I have so many investigations to complete.”
“Then it’s settled,” I said. My “girls” shared knowing glances across the table. They knew. I had to make certain that my fortune would not fall into the wrong hands. My family had no notion that I was the greatest enigma to them all. Later, Bugsy rested on my lap, his plump body exuding warmth as I stroked his fur. The smooth sound of shuffled cards filled the air, a rhythm that I found soothing.
Across from me, Dolly fanning out her cards with a dramatic flourish, while Margo sat poised, fingers quietly drumming against the table. Their curiosity weighed down on me. “So, you’re just going to… watch them?” Margo eventually ended the stillness. I smirked and flipped a card between my fingers. “For now.” Dolly took a slow drink from her espresso. “And what exactly are you planning to learn?”
I slumped back in my chair, absorbing the weight of their query. “Everything they’re hiding.” I picked up my glass of pomegranate juice and took a slow sip, enjoying the tartness. “Everyone has something to lose now. “And they are aware of this.” Oh, Vivi, lovely. Do you know that this is no longer just a family drama? “This is a complete mystery. Margo tilted her head, attentively watching me. “And you’re sure you want to keep playing this game?”
I caressed the rim of my glass with my fingertip before placing it down. “Margo, dear, I am the game.” And then I felt it. That prickle in the back of my neck. The definite sense of being observed. I leaned up casually, as if to adjust an earring, tilting my head just enough to capture the smallest detail—a hairline fissure in the ceiling, scarcely visible yet wide enough. A spyhole. My fingers paused on my earlobe. Somebody was in the attic. They are watching us. I did not react. Didn’t look up. Instead, I allowed a slow, knowing smile to spread across my lips as I slipped my next card onto the table. Let the game begin.