Chapter 3

I had the best sleep of my life. But at five the next morning, my phone started buzzing relentlessly.

It was Jason.

The second I answered, his irritated voice barked through the speaker. "Mom, Leo wet the bed! What setting do I put the washing machine on for kids' clothes?"

Ever since Leo was weaned, Chloe complained that he was too noisy at night, so they dumped him in my room to sleep with me.

The questions kept coming, rapid-fire.

"Do I use liquid detergent or powder? Can I wash his clothes and socks together? Where the hell are his spare pants kept...?"

Finally, he lost his temper and yelled, "Old woman, answer me!"

I hung up without a word.

I had only been gone for one day, and he was already falling apart?

Well, he had decades ahead of him to figure it out.

I went back to sleep and woke up around eight. When I opened the front door, Jason was standing there, his face thunderous.

"Why didn't you answer my calls?"

Seeing that I had no intention of answering, his tone softened into a wheedling whine.

"Mom, I came to pick you up. Stop acting out and come home with me."

See? Even after everything, they still thought I was just throwing a childish tantrum.

They were convinced I couldn't survive without them.

Jason spoke as if he were doing me a huge favor.

"Dad's losing his mind in his old age. Don't take it out on the rest of us. You can't just abandon the house! Don't you care about your grandson?"

"You weren't there last night, and Leo cried for hours begging for you. You're the one who raised him! If you suddenly vanish, how is he supposed to manage?"

I missed my grandson, but I hardened my heart.

"I'm not going back."

"I spent forty years waiting on all of you hand and foot. I'm exhausted. For whatever time I have left, I just want to live for myself."

"Not as someone's wife, not as someone's mother. Just me."

Jason stared at me for half a minute as if I had spoken in alien gibberish.

"Fine, you stubborn old bat! Act tough!"

"Let's see how long you last out here. I hope you don't come crawling back, begging on your knees!"

"I'm warning you, my patience has limits. If you keep spitting in my face when I'm giving you an out, I'll pretend you were never my mother!"

Having hit a brick wall, he stormed back to his car and sped off.

Finally, I had a few days of total peace.

Living alone was bliss. Without endless chores, the days stretched out long and sweet.

Naturally, someone just had to come and ruin it.

In the middle of the night, Richard blew up my phone with calls.

"Evelyn, I'm bringing Vivian home tomorrow. Cook something nice to welcome her."

"Oh, by the way, she's sick, and the doctor said no spicy or greasy food. Keep it bland, and buy plenty of fresh seafood—it's good for her recovery..."

He rattled on and on.

I almost burst out laughing. Waiting on him wasn't enough; now he expected me to nurse his dying mistress?

Did I look like a registered nurse running a charity ward?

"Richard, we're not legally divorced yet. What the hell do you think you're doing? You're already moving your side piece into our house?"

There was a pause on the other end.

"Evelyn, don't tell me you're getting cold feet?"

"Let me tell you right now, this divorce is happening! I promised Vivian that the second our papers go through, I'm marrying her.”

“ I'll take care of her as her lawful husband, and when she passes, we're being buried in the same plot!"

"Even if you want to regret it now, it's too late!"