PART 2 I read the whole thread. Darren had contacted the realtor three weeks after my surgery. He told her his father was “moving into assisted living permanently.” He sent her photos of every room. He asked how fast a cash buyer could close.

“Dad signed a power of attorney before his surgery,” he wrote. “I can sign everything.”

I had signed a medical power of attorney. For hospital decisions. Only that.

Darren had been treating it like a key to my whole life.

The family from Iowa left by 10:30. I refunded them myself from his host account and apologized. The father gave me my bathrobe back, folded.

“For what it’s worth,” he said, “I’m sorry. We had no idea.”

Then I made three phone calls.

The first was to my lawyer, Marta Engstrom. She’d done my will.

She revoked the power of attorney that afternoon.

The second was to Airbnb. The listing came down within the hour. Every future booking was canceled.

The third was to Pam at Northland Realty.

“This is Floyd Haskins,” I said. “The old man. I’m still here. My stuff is staying.”

She was mortified. She sent me copies of every email Darren had written.