“Emily, listen carefully. You did nothing wrong.”
She sobbed.
“I’m sorry I ruined your birthday.”
“Oh, sweetheart.”
I gripped the kitchen counter.
“You’re the only person who remembered what my birthday was supposed to mean.”
I told Caroline I would come for Emily shortly.
Then I ended the call.
David stepped forward.
“Mom, she doesn’t understand the situation.”
I looked at him.
“Neither do you, apparently.”
Brooke began speaking rapidly.
“Emily has always been dramatic. She twists everything. She’s been turning you against us for months.”
I walked past them into the dining room.
Everyone looked up.
I took the cream-colored folder from beside Brooke’s plate.
She lunged toward me.
“Give that back!”
Margaret stood between us.
“Helen is entitled to read documents bearing her own name.”
I opened the folder.
The first page contained a petition seeking appointment of a guardian over my financial affairs.
The accompanying statement alleged memory loss, emotional instability, poor judgment, and an inability to recognize financial risks.
According to the document, I had recently become confused about ownership of my own home.
I read the final paragraph.
My son claimed he was afraid I would lose the house unless he was given authority to manage it.
Then I turned to the signature page.
There was my name.
Or something meant to resemble it.
