“That’s precisely why your visits are so annoying. You arrive unannounced, interrogate everyone, and upset your mother.”
“I asked just one question.”
“You’ve been up here for almost an hour.”
“Mom needed help.”
“She needs consistency,” Chloe snapped. “Not a daughter who thinks she’s a hero just for a weekend.”
Julian raised a hand in a gesture of calm.
“Let’s not fight.”
His performance was almost convincing.
He gestured towards the empty chair.
“Sit down, Elena.”
I sat down.
The longer I kept them talking, the safer my mother felt.
Julian served me a slice of roast chicken.
“I know this is hard for you,” she began. “You haven’t seen the daily decline. Mom forgets conversations. She accuses us of stealing things. Last week she claimed Chloe locked her in the pantry.”
“Did Chloe lock her in the pantry?”
Chloe’s gaze sharpened.
“Of course not.”
“So why would I say that?”
“Because she is sick.”
Julian sighed.
“We didn’t want to worry you.”
“That was a very thoughtful gesture.”
He mistook my calmness for surrender.
“We’ve reserved a place for you,” he continued. “Magnificent facilities with qualified staff.”
“Willow Haven?”
They both froze.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
Chloe recovered first.
“Did he tell you?”
“Yeah.”
Julian let out a tired laugh.
“Then he probably also told you that we were stealing from him.”
“He mentioned his concern about his finances.”
“There it is.” He held out his hands. “Paranoia. Another symptom.”
“Why doesn’t he have his phone?”
“It fell.”
“He said you wrecked it.”
Her face changed slightly.
“See what I mean?”
I drank my glass of water.
When will the van arrive?
“Tomorrow at nine,” Chloe replied. “It’s best if you leave earlier. Your presence could cause a scene.”
“I’m staying.”
Chloe’s mouth tightened.
Julian stared at me.
“We are their legal guardians.”
“No, you’re not.”
“We have power of attorney.”
“That is not the same as guardianship.”
His gaze turned cold.
“You haven’t even seen the documents.”
“You’re right. Bring them to me.”
“They are private.”
“I am his daughter.”
“You are not his lawyer.”
“No,” I said softly. “I’m worse.”
Julian understood the warning.
