“You’ve been paying a family rate for years.”
She looked at her son.
“When the current arrangement legally ends, so does the discount. After that, you can pay the proper rent or find another place.”
Eric stared at her.
“You can’t change everything because you’re angry.”
Barbara shook her head.
“I’m not angry.”
Then her voice hardened.
“I’m ashamed.”
That silenced him.
“Claire didn’t ask me to do this.”
Eric looked at me.
“She didn’t ask me for revenge.”
Barbara stepped closer.
“She told me what you did because your premature daughter needed medication and you told her to ask someone who cared.”
Eric’s face reddened.
Tessa looked at him.
“You said Claire had money.”
He shot her a warning glance.
“You said she left you.”
“Tessa—”
“You said the baby was fine.”
Barbara gave me a look.
Apparently Eric’s carefully constructed new life was beginning to crack faster than expected.cafar
He followed us toward the curb.
“Mom, wait.”
Barbara opened my car door.
“No.”
“Seriously.”
“No, Eric.”
He stopped.
“I’ve waited thirty-four years for you to grow up.”
We drove away.
Barbara’s next stop was the pharmacy.
She paid for everything Chloe needed.
I stared at the bag in my lap.
“I’ll repay you.”
“Yes.”
I looked at her, surprised.
She smiled.
“Because I’m not going to become another woman cleaning up Eric’s responsibilities.”
That afternoon, Barbara sat at my kitchen table with a notebook.
“Money he removed from savings?”
I gave her the amount.
“Shared expenses?”
I listed them.
“Medical bills?”
I nodded.
“Furniture?”
“He took some.”
“Messages?”
“Plenty.”
She pushed the notebook toward me.
“Write everything down.”
“Eric says most of the savings were his.”
Barbara shrugged.
