On a typical Tuesday evening, I walked into my in-laws’ house to find my children with completely empty plates, while their nieces and nephews were eating their third helping of lasagna from a “real” dinner set. Eighteen minutes later, I quietly decided I’d had enough of being their personal ATM, and that something in this family was about to go wrong in a way no one expected.

I glanced at my watch. 7:43. Exactly 18 minutes after I made the call.

I answered on speaker so Wyatt could hear.
Dining
Room Dishes
Family
Family
Kitchen Utensils and Plates
Family Members

“Leah, honey, there’s something wrong with your mortgage payment.” Her voice was shaking, almost panicked. “The bank called and said you withdrew as guarantor. That’s impossible. There must have been some mistake.”

“No way, Addison. I’ve canceled your mortgage and stopped all payments.”

“You can’t do this. We’ll lose our house.”

“Then I suggest you find a way to pay the installments yourself. You have 90 days before foreclosure proceedings begin.”

“Leah, please. We can fix this.”

“Shall we?” Because yesterday you made my children wait for leftovers while your daughter’s children ate first. You told them to know their place. So now you’ll know yours.

I hung up.

Wyatt stared at me with a pale face.

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