Chapter 26 - Melissa comes alone
Melissa requested a meeting.
My lawyer said:
“Your choice.”
I agreed.
Public café.
She looked tired.
No elegant party dress.
No performance.
“I’m sorry about your birthday.”
“You’re sorry about what?”
She exhaled.
“For saying you lived there free.”
“Did you believe it?”
“No.”
There.
“Then why say it?”
“Because I was angry.”
“At what?”
“You were canceling the roof payment.”
“I canceled after you said it.”
She stopped.
Right.
Memory had begun protecting her.
Then:
“I resented how much Brian depended on you.”
“So you charged me more?”
“At first I thought if you were going to live with us, you should contribute fairly.”
“Fair.”
“Then costs kept getting added.”
“Without telling me.”
“Yes.”
“And your fee.”
“Yes.”
“And surplus.”
She looked away.
“Yes.”
I asked:
“Why dog food?”
Her eyes filled.
“Brian wanted a joke about you being spoiled.”
“Freeloaders.”
“Yes.”
“You filmed.”
“Yes.”
“What were you going to do with it?”
“Send it to family chat.”
That was all.
No hidden business content.
No viral scheme.
May you like
Just cruelty.
Sometimes the most disappointing explanation is the small one.
