Helen walked her to the entrance.
“Don’t let them bend you, neighbor.”
Margaret smiled.
“I bent for too many years. Not today.”
Daniel and Rebecca sat across the room. He refused to look up. She did, staring at Margaret as though she were an intruder in a story where she was supposed to obey.
The judge asked them to speak.
Rebecca stood first.
“Your Honor, my mother-in-law took advantage of our absence. She entered our home, took furniture, appliances, and things necessary for my children. She left us without a refrigerator, without a washer, without a living room. It was cruel and vindictive.”
The judge made notes.
“Did Mrs. Margaret live with you?”
“Yes,” Daniel said.
“Did she pay rent?”
Daniel swallowed.
“No, but she helped around the house.”
Margaret nearly smiled.
Helped.
Such a small word for four years of cooking, caring for children, paying bills, buying groceries, and swallowing comments.
The judge turned toward her.
“Mrs. Margaret, you may respond.”
She stood.
“I do not deny that I moved out. I do not deny that I took things. What I deny is that I stole anything. Everything I removed was purchased with my money. Here are the receipts, bank statements, and proof.”
She handed over the blue folder.
The judge began examining it.
The silence became heavy.
“Refrigerator purchased by Margaret Collins.”
He turned another page.
“Washer and dryer.”
Another.
“Dining table.”
Another.
“Living room set.”
Another.
