“Where is Mason’s clean school uniform?”
“The dog had an accident on the rug because no one walked him.”
“Clinton cannot find his navy dress shirt anywhere.”
“I do not know how to turn on the coffee maker.”
“Just come back home right now and we can pretend yesterday never happened.”
Even Brenda, the housekeeper who came twice a week for heavier chores, called later that morning.
“Margaret, your daughter offered to pay me triple my normal rate to cook their meals, drive her son, wash laundry, and walk the dog today,” Brenda chuckled over the line. “I told her very clearly that I clean houses for a living, but I do not work as a slave for anyone.”
I laughed out loud for the first time in years.
Then Clara glanced at the calendar on her wall.
“Margaret, today is the fourteenth of the month.”
A chill ran down my spine.
I suddenly remembered.
On the fifteenth of every month, my account was automatically charged for the high speed internet, electricity, and several streaming subscriptions Clinton had asked me to set up in my name because he was always too busy.
For four years, he had promised to reimburse me.
He almost never did.
I looked at my debit card on the table.
If I did nothing, those payments would drain my small pension account again the next morning.
I stood and grabbed my coat.
“Clara, grab your coat and put on your shoes.”
“Where are we headed?” she asked.
I put the documents back inside my red wallet.
“Our very first stop is the bank.”
At the local branch, I canceled every direct debit agreement linked to my account.
Afterward, I visited the utility offices and formally canceled the internet and electricity contracts registered under my legal name.
Any services they still wanted would have to be assumed and paid for by the actual homeowners.
As we left the last office, Clara grinned broadly.
“Now those two are finally going to realize just how expensive it was to replace you.”
My phone immediately began ringing inside my purse.
Clinton.
