I calmly stirred my coffee.
“I changed my mind.”
“About WHAT?”
“The money.”
Jessica stared at me.
“You promised us $80,000!”
“I did.”
“You can’t just take that away!”
“It’s still my money, Jessica.”
Her mouth fell open.
Then Michael finally spoke.
“Mom… what about the mortgage?”
“I’m done paying that too.”
Jessica pushed her chair back.
“You’re doing this because of a JOKE?”
I looked directly into her eyes.
“No. I’m doing this because last night reminded me of something I should have realized years ago.”
Nobody moved.
“You’re sixty-three years old!” Jessica snapped. “You looked ridiculous!”
I smiled.
“And yet somehow I’m old enough to be ridiculous, but not too old for you to accept my money every month.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Jessica’s face turned bright red.
Michael slowly looked away.
I stood up, picked up my beach bag, and slipped my sunglasses onto my face.
Before
