I walked over to the counter. I picked up the blue folder.
“You took my mother’s files from my room,” I said calmly.
“It was a mistake, Clara!” Richard stammered. “We were just sorting things out.
We’ll let you live in the main bedroom! Just tell the officers it is a family matter!”
I looked at Leo. He was staring at the floor. His smirk was completely gone.
“You told me my mother never loved me,” I said to Leo.
“I was just joking, Clara,” Leo whispered. “Please. We can work this out.”
I turned to the police officer.
“These men forged my mother’s signature on a will and a sale contract,” I said. “And they stole my personal property.”
“Clara, no!” Richard screamed as the officers pulled him up. “We are family!”
“No,” I said. “You’re not.”
They were led out of the house in the rain.
Richard and Leo were charged with grand theft, forgery, and financial fraud. They couldn’t pay the $50,000 penalty to the trust.
They are currently awaiting trial. The developer pulled out, and the house remains mine.
Yesterday, Mr. Vance came over.
We sat in the kitchen. The rain had stopped, and the Seattle sun was reflecting off the wet leaves outside.
I made Earl Grey tea.
I reached into the chipped ceramic sugar bowl. I took out 2 sugar cubes and dropped them into my cup.
The house was quiet. But it didn’t feel lonely anymore.
The sugar bowl is back on the counter. The kitchen is clean.
The front door is still yellow.
✓
End of story — Part 5 of 5
