alking about me.<\/p>\n
Jessica asked if it was cramped living with her husband\u2019s mother. Melinda said it was temporary because they had almost saved enough for a house.<\/p>\n
She was lying. Melinda said I stick my nose into everything and that I was a grandmother stereotype.<\/p>\n
Jessica said her mother in law was a headache too. They both laughed and a lump rose in my throat.<\/p>\n
Melinda said the hardest part was pretending to appreciate my favors like laundry and cleaning. Jessica asked why she did not just move out.<\/p>\n
Melinda sighed and mentioned the cost of housing. She said they had to put up with the old burden for now.<\/p>\n
I quietly closed my bedroom door and sat on the edge of the bed. My hands were trembling but I did not let the tears fall.<\/p>\n
I looked at my hands and remembered how they held newborns and closed the eyes of the dying. Melinda thought they were just tools for serving her family.<\/p>\n
Rosie\u2019s voice echoed in my mind again. Something cracked inside me like ice on a river.<\/p>\n
The week after that conversation dragged by. Melinda\u2019s words rang in my ears every time I saw her.<\/p>\n
On Friday evening, I was dusting the living room when Melinda came home early. She said we needed to talk.<\/p>\n
I set down the duster and asked if something happened. She said she got a promotion and was now the manager of the laundry chain.<\/p>\n
I told her congratulations. She said she had to do some work from home and needed a home office.<\/p>\n
She said she was thinking about using my room. I froze and asked where I was supposed to sleep.<\/p>\n
Melinda shrugged and suggested the storage room. She said it was too big for one person and I only slept there anyway.<\/p>\n
A wave of anger rose in me. I said I needed to think about it.<\/p>\n
Melinda smiled condescendingly and said she wanted to start rearranging tomorrow. She had already ordered the furniture.<\/p>\n
I asked if she discussed this with Phillip. She said he was all for it and that it was their chance to get back on their feet.<\/p>\n
I said I would talk to him. Phillip came home later and I asked if he agreed to put me in a storage room.<\/p>\n
He lowered his eyes and said it was only temporary. He said they would make it comfortable with a nice bed.<\/p>\n
I sighed and said it was about respect. This was my house and I was still paying the mortgage.<\/p>\n
Phillip said he was trying to provide for his family. He said the promotion was their chance to make things right.<\/p>\n
I asked how long that would take. I asked when he would do something for himself instead of just indulging Melinda.<\/p>\n
He fell silent. I told him to talk to Melinda.
\nThe next morning, I woke to the sound of furniture being moved. I asked what was going on.<\/p>\n
Melinda said they were getting ready to rearrange. Phillip avoided my gaze.<\/p>\n
I said I had not given my consent. Melinda snapped that there was no time because she needed to start work on Monday.<\/p>\n
I told them not to touch anything in my room. I went back to my room and felt strangely liberated.<\/p>\n
By evening, I still had not made a final decision. Skyler brought me some tea and said it was not fair.<\/p>\n
She said they could not force me into the storage room. I said I had led them to believe I would give in.<\/p>\n
Skyler hoped I would not this time. Melinda walked in without a knock.<\/p>\n
She told Skyler to go help her father with the boxes. Melinda began measuring the wall.<\/p>\n
I said the answer was no. Melinda froze and said it was not up for discussion.<\/p>\n
I told her to find another solution. She asked if she should take the children\u2019s rooms.<\/p>\n
She said I was retired and only needed a closet. Skyler was shocked by the bluntness.<\/p>\n
Melinda told her to go to her father. Skyler said she was staying with me because it was my room.<\/p>\n
Phillip appeared in the doorway. Melinda said I refused to move for the sake of my junk.<\/p>\n
She pointed to the records. I said it was not junk but my life with George.<\/p>\n
Melinda suggested selling them because we needed the money. I said I would not sell my memories.<\/p>\n
Melinda said she was going to get her office even if she had to take the junk to the dump. She grabbed a rare album.<\/p>\n
I told her not to dare touch it. Melinda laughed and said I was too scared to be alone.<\/p>\n
She said I was only living there because they put up with me. The silence was deafening.<\/p>\n
I asked what she said. Melinda repeated that it was their home now and I was just an old woman clinging to the past.<\/p>\n
I told her she was right about facing the truth. I reminded her that I paid for this apartment and they moved in because Phillip lost his money.<\/p>\n
Melinda went pale. I told Phillip that I was done being a doormat.<\/p>\n
I took the record back from her and said no one touches my things. I told them to find somewhere else to live if they did not like it.<\/p>\n
I went to my room and felt strangely calm. I looked at the old photo album and remembered the day we bought the apartment in 1987.<\/p>\n
George and I worked so hard for this. We did all the renovations ourselves.<\/p>\n
We had housewarming parties and bought records every month. Now Melinda wanted to throw it all away.<\/p>\n
I decided to go to the bank and a lawyer. The bank teller said I had only three payments left on the mortgage.<\/p>\n
The lawyer said I had the legal right to ask them to leave. He called it emotional mistreatment.<\/p>\n
I told the family that I was going to spend a week with Rosie. Melinda was furious because she wanted me to cook and clean.<\/p>\n
Phillip apologized, but I told him apologies only matter when they are followed by change. I spent a wonderful week with Rosie.<\/p>\n
Chloe called every night and said they missed me. I returned with an official notice to vacate.<\/p>\n
I handed the envelope to Phillip. Melinda screamed that I could not make them leave.<\/p>\n
I told her that thirty days was more than the law required. I offered the children the choice to stay with me.<\/p>\n
Skyler and Jace both chose to stay. Melinda stormed out while Phillip followed her.<\/p>\n
I was left with my grandchildren. I put on a record by a jazz artist that George loved.<\/p>\n
I started dancing in the living room. Skyler said she had not seen me dance in years.<\/p>\n
I told her it was time to remember how. I was finally back to the real me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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