Chapter 4

I packed clothes, toiletries, medication, and my important documents.

Patrick watched me put my passport into my bag. “Stay with Denise for a few nights if you need to. But be back before Sunday.”

“Evelyn isn’t moving in on Sunday.”

“You don’t get to cancel that for her.”

“She never agreed to it.”

“She’s my mother.”

“Then you take care of her.”

Patrick folded his arms. “I leave Monday for work.”

“And I’m done canceling my life for you.”

He stepped aside when I passed.

The boxes of client files in the garage were too heavy to manage alone. I took my laptop and the documents I needed most. The desk stayed under the drop cloth.

I did not have to move everything tonight.

Patrick followed me. “You’re leaving home over this?”

“If you think this is one small disagreement, staying won’t help.”

“Dad was buried today. Is that what you want everyone to remember? That you walked out on us?”

“I cared for him for six years. You know I didn’t abandon anyone.”

“Other people won’t see it that way.”

He did not say he would correct them.

Before leaving, I called Evelyn.

“I’m staying with Denise tonight. I need you to hear this from me. I never invited you to move in, and I won’t be your full-time caregiver.”

“I never meant to drive you out of your home.”

“You didn’t cause this.”

“Patrick says you’re exhausted.”

“I am. I also know what I’m doing.”

Her voice dropped. “Don’t end your marriage because of me.”

“Our problems didn’t begin today. Today was the first time he announced his decision in front of everyone.”

She did not ask me to return.

“Are we still talking at ten tomorrow?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“Good. I want my children to tell me what they’re willing to do.”

Denise lived twenty minutes away. She came outside in slippers and took my laptop bag without asking questions.

“I’ll get the suitcase. Park the car.”

She had changed the sheets in the spare room and cleared half the closet.

“Bathroom’s on the right. There’s soup downstairs. You don’t have to talk tonight.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank me tomorrow. Your shoes are on the wrong feet.”

She was wrong, but I laughed anyway.

After she left, I plugged in my laptop.

Seventeen messages waited in the family group chat. Patrick’s came first.

Rachel left home after Dad’s funeral. She refused to let Mom move in and won’t help the family through this difficult time.

Elaine asked where I had gone.

She needs time to calm down, Patrick replied. I’ll bring her home when she’s thinking clearly.

Aunt Carol wrote that Frank would have been disappointed in me.

I answered once.

I did not invite Evelyn to move in or agree to be her full-time caregiver. Tomorrow, her three children will discuss how they intend to share responsibility. Do not make promises for me.

Patrick immediately messaged me privately.

You’ve made your point. Come home before you make this uglier.

I did not answer.

Instead, I texted Janet, my former supervisor, and asked whether the firm had any part-time openings.

She called less than ten minutes later.

“Rachel? Are you finally ready to come back?”

“If there’s still an opportunity, I’d like to talk.”

Papers shifted on her end.

“I’m glad you called,” she said. “But I need to ask you something first. Six months ago, I tried to offer you a full-time position.”

I sat straighter. “You called me?”

“I called your cell first. Then I called the house. Patrick answered.”

“What did he tell you?”

The rustling stopped.

“He said the two of you had already decided. After Frank died, you planned to stay home permanently and care for Evelyn.”

Patrick had not decided my future at the funeral.

He had started giving it away six months earlier.

I tightened my grip on the phone.

“Janet—is the position still open?”