“Mara, please.”
“I am ending the occupancy agreement.”
Julian stepped forward.
“You cannot throw her into the street tonight.”
“I am not.”
I looked at Elias.
He understood immediately.
“She will receive formal notice,” he said.
“Mara will provide sixty days, although the agreement requires only thirty.”
Celeste pressed one hand to her throat.
“Where am I supposed to go?”
“You have income, jewelry, and the investment account I helped you preserve,” I said.
“Elias will send you a list of qualified property agents.
Your belongings will be packed professionally.
No one will put you on the street.”
Her face hardened again when she realized tears had not reversed my decision.
“You would humiliate your own mother?”
I looked around the dining room.
“You taught me humiliation should have witnesses.”
The words landed harder than shouting would have.
Julian’s voice dropped.
“And what about me?”
“You do not live here.”
“I use this address professionally.”
“That ends tonight.”
Elise stared at him.
“You told my parents this was your family estate.”
“It is our family estate.”
“No,” she said.
“It is Mara’s house.”
Julian reached for her arm.
She pulled away.
“I need space,” she said.
Then she picked up her coat and walked out through the still-open front door.
The departure broke the spell over the other guests.
Chairs shifted.
People began gathering purses and coats, speaking in murmurs that were somehow more insulting than open curiosity.
Mrs.
Bellamy paused beside my mother but did not stay.
Arthur Harlan gave me a stiff nod before leaving.
A few guests attempted awkward apologies.
Most avoided my eyes.
Within fifteen minutes, the grand Thanksgiving party had collapsed into the sounds of closing doors and retreating cars.
Julian left last.
At the doorway, he turned toward me.
“This will destroy Mom.”
“No,” I said.
“It will change her address.”
His mouth tightened.
“You always hated us.”
I looked at the room I had saved for them.
“No.
I kept confusing love with permission.”
He had no answer for that.
After he left, Celeste remained at the table with the unsigned deed in front of her.
The candles had burned low.
