He did not look happy or triumphant.
That was what struck me the most.
He looked like a loving father who had deeply hoped the object in that overnight bag would never have to see the light of day.
Holly stayed right beside his side, watching Gene’s reaction with quiet composure.
The very same child who had worried the night before whether Brandon would remain her father was now the exact person holding the authority to determine whether Gene was allowed to remain in our family.
Gene lifted the folded white index card out of the box with shaking hands.
Her fingers were nowhere near as steady as they had been when she wrote the word GUEST on Holly’s place card earlier that morning.
She unfolded the paper once.
Then she unfolded it again.
The entire dining room held its breath in absolute silence.
At the very top of the card was a handwritten legal notice that Gene clearly never anticipated receiving.
It formally notified Gene that Brandon had officially changed the deadbolt locks on our home, revoked her spare key permanently, and stated that any further contact with our family would require Holly’s personal permission.
THE END.
