“She doesn’t need to know about the sale yet.”
Then Olivia answered, “The buyer wants vacant possession. Once the court appoints you, we can move her somewhere decent and close.”
The recording stopped.
Claire made a sound like a breath being pulled through a wound.
Michael turned toward her.
“Claire, go upstairs.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No,” she repeated, louder. “I heard you talking about moving Grandma.”
Olivia reached for her daughter.
Claire stepped backward.
“You told me Grandma wanted to leave,” Claire said. “You said the house was too much for her.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
“From this.”
Olivia swept an arm toward the papers, the recorder, the open box. Her face had lost its color.
Eleanor took the final envelope from the box. It contained a letter from her attorney, Miriam Vale, and a notice from the county court.
The guardianship hearing was scheduled for the following Monday.
The petitioner was Michael Grant.
Michael looked at the notice.
“I didn’t file this.”
“You signed it,” Eleanor said.
“I signed hospital forms.”
“You signed twelve pages.”
“I thought they were for the business.”
Olivia’s head snapped toward him. “You knew what you were signing.”
“I knew nothing about a guardianship.”
“You asked me to handle it.”
“I asked you to help with the bills.”
“You said she was becoming unsafe.”
