Two years earlier, Margaret’s apartment lease had expired.
Richard asked Susan whether his mother could stay with them temporarily while she searched for somewhere else to live.
“A few weeks,” he promised.
Those weeks became months.
Three months became a year.
Eventually, Margaret simply stopped discussing plans to move.
More importantly, she stopped behaving like a guest.
She reorganized Susan’s kitchen without permission.
She moved photographs of Susan’s late father because she didn’t like where they were displayed.
She invited relatives over for dinners without asking.
She replaced household items because they weren’t to her taste.
And whenever she spoke to neighbors, Margaret referred casually to the property as “Richard’s house.”
Susan had corrected her more than once.
Margaret laughed each time.
That afternoon, Susan didn’t have time for another argument.
She called Richard.
He answered after several rings.
“Hey. I’m about to walk into a meeting. Can this wait?”
