Chapter 2: The Document on the Table
That night, I couldn't sleep.
I lay still in the dark, staring at the ceiling, turning that silent glance over and over in my mind.
The next morning, I came downstairs earlier than usual.
Daniel was alone in the kitchen, his back to me, speaking quietly into his phone.
"…she won't agree.
We may have to move faster."
He turned and saw me.
His face went pale.
"Mom.
I didn't hear you come down."
"Clearly," I said.
"Who were you talking to?"
"Nobody.
Just work."
But his hand was shaking when he set the phone face-down on the counter.
I poured my tea without a word.
But before I could sit, I noticed something on the edge of the table — a folded document with a yellow sticky note on top.
I recognized the letterhead immediately.
It was from a solicitor's office.
Daniel moved toward it quickly, but not quickly enough.
I had already seen my name.
And below it, two words that made the room feel suddenly very cold.
*Power of Attorney.*
"Daniel," I said slowly.
"What is this?"
He said nothing.
May you like
He just looked toward the hallway — toward the sound of Vanessa's footsteps coming down the stairs.
And in that moment, I understood exactly why they had come to stay.
