He took me to a special section and showed me several books. One caught my attention immediately.
It Is Never Too Late to Be Who You Want to Be.
“This is very popular among our customers over sixty,” he told me.
I bought the book and sat in a nearby café to read it. The first chapter spoke about how many people spend decades living the life others expect of them until one day they realize they have never asked themselves what they really want. It was as if the book had been written for me.
My phone rang. It was Linda.
“Mrs. Emily, excuse me for bothering you.”
“You are not bothering me, Linda. What happened?”
“Sarah came again.”
“Yes?”
“This time she came with a man who claims to be a lawyer.”
My blood ran cold.
“A lawyer for what?”
“He says he wants to review the house papers because she has a legal right to live here.”
“Where are they now?”
“They left when Robert told them they could not enter without a court order.”
“Robert knew that?”
“His son, Michael, had explained on the phone what to say if something like this happened.”
“Michael knew this could happen?”
“Yes, ma’am. Apparently, Sarah told him she was going to seek legal help to resolve the problem.”
I hung up and immediately called Michael.
“Mrs. Emily, I imagine why you are calling me.”
“Michael, what is happening?”
“Sarah hired a lawyer to review whether she can force you to let her live in the house.”
“Can she do that?”
“No, Mrs. Emily. The house is completely in your name. You can decide who lives there and who doesn’t.”
“Then why is she trying?”
“Because she is desperate and because she really believes she has a right to make decisions about your life.”
“Michael, what do you plan to do?”
“I already did something. I told Sarah that if she continues with this, when I return I am not going to be financially responsible for her.”
“Really?”
“Very seriously. Mrs. Emily, what Sarah is doing is wrong, and it is time someone told her clearly.”
When I hung up, my hands were shaking. It was incredible how far Sarah was willing to go to get her way. But I also realized something important. I no longer felt alone facing this. Linda, Robert, David, Michael, even the hotel receptionist—everyone was supporting me. For the first time in years, I had a support network formed by people who respected me.
It was time to show Sarah she was no longer dealing with the mother who let herself be trampled on. It was time for the final confrontation.
The next day, I decided it was time to end this situation once and for all. I could not keep living with the constant threat of Sarah appearing with lawyers or inventing new ways to pressure me.
I called Linda in the morning.
“Linda, I want you to organize something for this afternoon.”
