She felt exhausted.
She thought about the property taxes she had paid from her personal account.
The new HVAC system.
The roof repairs.
The refinished hardwood floors.
The kitchen restoration after a plumbing leak.
Insurance deductibles.
Renovations.
The months when Richard had asked her to carry a larger portion of the household expenses because his finances were tight.
None of that had bothered Susan when she believed they were building a life together.
Now she wondered when partnership had turned into entitlement.
Margaret recovered quickly.
“So what are you saying? Because your father left you a house, you can throw your husband’s mother into the street?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Then why are you waving legal paperwork in my face?”
Susan stood.
“Because for two years, you’ve called this Richard’s house while treating me like I’m the inconvenience inside it. And Richard let you believe that because correcting you would have required him to confront you.”
