“You cannot seriously expect me to go hunting through thrift stores for a stained old couch.”
I turned one of the appraisal pages toward her.
Her eyes landed on the figures.
The laugh stopped.
Not everything Grandma owned was valuable in a way Vanessa understood.
But some pieces had been assessed far above what she had assumed.
The sideboard Grandpa built had been documented because of its history and craftsmanship.
Grandma’s quilt had a recorded provenance within the family.
The couch itself was less important for resale than for its place in the estate inventory, but Vanessa had made the mistake of deciding value based solely on whether something matched her taste.
She looked at one appraisal, then another.
“This can’t be right.”
“It is,” I said.
“You’re telling me that ugly sideboard was worth that?”
Derek closed his eyes.
I stared at her.
“My grandfather built it.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“You did.”
She stopped.
Mara broke the silence.
“Brianna, do you know which company removed the furniture?”
I glanced at the footage on my phone.
The truck logo was visible enough for me to identify the moving company, although no readable text would ever have mattered as much as Vanessa walking beside the movers and directing them.
“I can find out.”
Derek spoke suddenly.
“I have their number.”
Vanessa whipped around.
“Derek.”
“What?”
“Stop helping her build a case against us.”
He looked genuinely stunned.
“Us? You told me this was cleared with her.”
“I told you she wouldn’t mind.”
“You told me to bring my office setup because we could stay through the end of the condo work.”
“I thought we could.”
“In her house?”
Vanessa stared at him as though his betrayal were somehow the greatest offense committed that day.
Then she turned back to me.
“Fine.
You’re angry.
I get it.
I should have communicated better.”
I almost admired how quickly she tried to shrink the problem.
Six weeks of occupation became poor communication.
Grandma’s furniture disappearing became a decorating disagreement.
Thirty-eight thousand dollars became a favor misunderstood.
She softened her voice.
“Brianna, we can fix this without lawyers.”
Mara stayed silent on the speaker.
I knew she was letting Vanessa talk.
Vanessa continued.
“You don’t even have to pay the whole invoice immediately.
I can carry part of the balance for another month.”
Derek stared at her.
I did too.
“You still think I’m paying that?” I asked.
