Chapter 3 - The Phone Call to Mother
Lydia backed up against the sliding glass door, trapped between her furious brother and my stone-faced husband. Her perfect posture had completely collapsed, her expensive blow-dried hair falling out of its neat pins. For years, she had manipulated our family dynamics like a puppet master, always positioning herself as the benevolent savior while quietly pulling the strings for her own benefit. But looking at her now, I didn't see an imposing older sister. I saw a desperate, greedy con artist whose house of cards had just caught fire.
""I had to do something!"" Lydia sobbed, suddenly dropping into theatrical tears. ""The market turned six months ago! My brokerage is bleeding money! I have mortgage payments on three investment properties that won't sell, and private lenders are calling my cell phone every twenty minutes! I was going to give Daniel his cut! I was going to help him buy a normal house out in Gresham! I was doing this for all of us!""
""By committing felony grand larceny against your sister?"" I asked, pulling my phone back out. ""You forged my signature on a deed transfer. In the state of Oregon, that is aggravated identity theft and first-degree forgery. You could go to state prison for this, Lydia.""
""You wouldn't dare!"" she spat, wiping her mascara-streaked eyes. ""Mom would never forgive you! If you put your own sister in prison, it will destroy this family forever!""
""Let's test that theory,"" I said calmly. I tapped the screen, selected Mom’s contact, and put the call on speakerphone.
The ring echoed loudly in the cavernous, box-filled room. It rang three times before my mother picked up, her tone brisk and slightly annoyed, exactly as it always was whenever I called.
""Mara? What is it? I'm in the middle of my bridge group. Is this an emergency? Because if you're calling about Christmas again, I already told you that Lydia is hosting and we expect you to contribute to the catering—""
""Mom,"" I interrupted clearly. ""I am standing inside my Lake Oswego condo. I just walked in on Lydia moving Daniel and his family into my home using forged legal documents and a fake power of attorney.""
The line went completely dead for five seconds. When Mom spoke again, her voice held zero shock. In fact, it was loaded with deep, defensive irritation.
""Oh, Mara. Don't be so dramatic. Lydia told me she was going to talk to you about that this weekend. Daniel lost his rental, for heaven's sake! What kind of cold-hearted person leaves her brother on the street when she has an empty three-bedroom luxury home sitting vacant ninety percent of the year? You should be offering it to him, not complaining about paperwork!""
Daniel let out a broken, shuddering gasp. ""Mom? You knew about this?""
""Daniel? Is that you?"" Mom's voice faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her footing. ""Of course I knew! Lydia and I discussed it last Sunday. We agreed that Mara doesn't appreciate family anyway. She moved away to Seattle, she barely visits, she never got married, she never gave me grandchildren, and she lives like a selfish bachelorette while her brother is out there working his fingers to the bone raising a family! It’s called family solidarity, Mara! You sign those papers over right now and stop this ridiculous jealousy!""
I looked over at Owen. He was holding Sadie on his hip, while June stood beside him, clutching his trouser leg. Both girls were looking at the phone with wide, curious eyes.
""Mom,"" I said, my voice so steady it startled even me. ""I want you to listen to me very carefully. First of all, I am married. I have been married for eight years to an incredible man. And you have two granddaughters, June and Sadie, who are currently eating fruit snacks five feet away from me.""
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A stunned gasp came through the speaker. ""You... you what? You're lying. You're just saying that to spite me!""
""I'm not lying, Mom,"" I said softly. ""I kept them away from you because for thirty-eight years, you have treated me like a second-class citizen while putting Lydia on a pedestal. And second of all, Lydia wasn't gifting this home to Daniel. She drafted a contract forcing Daniel to sell it within thirty days so she could pocket an eight-hundred-thousand-dollar commission to bail out her failing real estate business. And right now, the police are on their way.""
