I turned toward the porch. The welcome mat was new. The rocking chairs belonged to Ashley. But through the front window, I could still see Grandma’s blue curtains hanging in the living room.
That hurt more than the yelling.
Discover more
Family relationship counseling
Family dinner recipes
Desserts
One deputy asked whether I wanted them removed from the property. My mother stared at me, suddenly gentle, suddenly small. “Claire, please. Don’t do this to your sister.” RealEstate
I remembered every time she had called me dirty, broken, embarrassing. I remembered Grandma visiting me in rehab when no one else would. I remembered Ashley posting pictures from my lake house with the caption, “Blessed to inherit peace.”
I looked at the deputy. “Yes. I want them removed.”
That was when Ashley snapped. “You don’t even deserve this place!” she screamed. “You were supposed to ruin your life. You always ruin everything.”
The deputy told her to calm down. She did not. She lunged toward the porch table, grabbed a folder, and tried to rip the papers inside.
That was when Melissa said, “Deputy, those are copied rental contracts connected to the investigation.”
Ashley froze with paper clenched in her fist.
read more in next page
