I made dinner—simple pasta and sauce, which Harper loved. We ate in the kitchen, and my granddaughter slowly relaxed, talking about school, friends, the latest book she was reading. For a while, we both forgot about the problems with Austin.
After dinner, I made Harper’s bed in the guest room. When she was settled, I sat down next to her.
“Grandma,” she asked quietly, “are you really moving?”
I looked at her in surprise. “Who told you?”
“I heard Dad yelling about it to Mom. He said you were threatening to go to Florida.”
I sighed. Apparently Austin had heard about my plans from someone he knew. Maybe Brandon, who might have seen me outside the realtor’s office.
“I’m considering it,” I answered honestly. “But nothing has been finalized yet.” It was a small lie to save the day. I didn’t want to upset Harper anymore.
“If you go away, will I be able to come visit you?” I could hear the worry in her voice.
“Of course, sweetheart.” I stroked her head. “You’ll always be welcome in my house, wherever it is. And we’ll call each other every day.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
Harper smiled and closed her eyes. I kissed her forehead and left the room, leaving the door ajar. Back in the living room, I sat down in a chair and thought about it. The situation was getting more and more complicated. It now involved Harper, and I didn’t want her to suffer because of the conflict between me and her father. But I also knew that I couldn’t go on living my life as before. Yesterday’s incident had revealed Austin’s true feelings for me, and I deserved better. I deserved respect, gratitude, true love—not ostentatious affection for money.
Saturday morning began with a thunderstorm. Heavy drops drummed on the roof, the wind swaying the branches of the magnolia in the yard. I woke up early, listening to the sound of the rain. The weather matched my mood perfectly—anxious, but with a sense of an impending cleansing storm.
Harper was still asleep in the guest room. I quietly walked to the kitchen and started making breakfast—blueberry pancakes, her favorite. I turned on the coffeemaker and thought about my upcoming conversation with Austin. I knew he wouldn’t be long in coming. Yesterday, I’d sent him a text to let him know I had Harper and that she was safe. I didn’t get a reply, but I was sure he’d show up as soon as he read it.
Around nine, Harper came out into the kitchen, sleepy and disheveled.
“Good morning, Grandma,” she yawned. “Mmm, pancakes.”
“Good morning, sunshine.” I smiled. “Did you sleep well?”
She nodded, sitting down at the table. I put a plate of pancakes and a glass of orange juice in front of her.
“Grandma,” she began hesitantly, picking at a pancake with her fork, “do I have to go home tonight?”
“I’m afraid so,” I replied softly. “Your parents will be worried.”
“They think I’m at Emily’s,” she countered. “I can tell them I’m staying with her for another day.”
“Harper.” I sat down across from her. “I’ve already told your father that you’re at my place.”
She turned pale. “He’ll be furious.”
“Maybe.” I took her hand. “But you didn’t do anything wrong. You were upset, and you came to your grandmother. It’s okay.”
“He’ll say I betrayed him,” Harper said quietly. “He always says that when I want to be with you.”
Those words hurt me. Austin was using his daughter as a weapon in our relationship, making her feel guilty for loving me. That was low, even for him.
“Listen to me, Harper.” I looked into her eyes. “Love isn’t a pie to be divided into slices. You can love Mom and Dad and me. It’s not a betrayal. And if someone makes you think that, it’s wrong.”
She nodded. But I could see I hadn’t fully convinced her. Austin’s compulsions were too deeply ingrained in her.
We ate breakfast, and I suggested we play a board game to take Harper’s mind off her worries. We were in the middle of placing the chips when I heard the screech of brakes in the yard. Through the window, I saw Austin’s car parked crooked in the drive.
“Daddy’s here,” Harper whispered, and I could see her tense up.
“It’s going to be okay.” I squeezed her hand. “Go to your room and pull yourself together. I’ll talk to him.”
She nodded obediently and left. At the same second, there was a knock on the door. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself, and went to open it.
Austin stood on the doorstep, soaked from the rain and clearly furious.
“Where is she?” he asked without greeting, pushing his way into the house.
“Good morning, Austin,” I said calmly. “Harper’s packing. She’s fine.”
“What the hell, Mom?” He turned to me, eyes burning with anger. “First you block my cards, then you talk my daughter into running away to you.”
“I didn’t encourage anyone.” I closed the door and crossed my arms over my chest. “Harper came on her own. She was upset about the way you acted after Thanksgiving.”
“I behaved?” He was practically screaming. “You’re the one who made a scene at dinner and ran away.”
“A scene?” I raised an eyebrow. “You put a plate of leftovers in front of me and told me that’s all I deserved. In front of your daughter, Austin—in front of an eleven‑year‑old child.”
He was confused for a second, but he quickly found himself.
“I was angry. You shamed me in front of my friends by asking about money at the table.”
“I asked a simple question about the deal I gave you thirty thousand for,” I countered. “The money you spent on the boat, not on business equipment as you claimed.”
Austin turned pale. “Who told you that?”
“Does it matter?” I shook my head. “Austin, this isn’t about the boat. It’s about the fact that you’ve been lying to me for years—manipulating me, using me like an ATM—and when I dare to ask a question, you humiliate me in front of everyone.”
“And that’s why you blocked my cards,” his voice turned icy. “Did you want to teach me a lesson?”
“I’ve decided to end an unhealthy relationship,” I said firmly. “The cards aren’t yours, Austin. They’re mine, and the money in the accounts is mine, too. I will no longer finance your life.”
He laughed, but it was an unpleasant, harsh sound. “What are you going to do? Save up for your funeral? You’re sixty, Mom. What’s the use of holding on to money?”
“I’m going to live, Austin,” I said calmly. “A full life without manipulation or guilt. I bought a house in Florida, and I’m moving in two weeks.”
His face contorted in shock. “What? Are you kidding?”
“No.” I shook my head. “The deal closes in thirty days. A little house in Sarasota overlooking the bay. Just what your father and I always dreamed of.”
“You can’t just leave.” He took a step toward me. “What about Harper? What about me?”
“Harper will always be welcome in my home,” I said. “I’ve already set up an education account in her name to pay for college. The money will only be available to her when she reaches the age of eighteen.”
“Without my permission,” he growled. “You have no right to make such decisions about my daughter.”
“I have the right to manage my money,” I parried. “And I want to make sure it goes to Harper’s education, not another boat.”
Austin clenched his fists, and for a second I thought he might hit me. But instead, he turned away, running his hand through his hair—a gesture he’d adopted from his father.
“You’re making a huge mistake,” he said more quietly. “If you go away, if you cut us off from the money, you’ll never see Harper again. I’ll take care of it.”
“It’s your right as a father,” I tried to speak calmly, though my insides clenched with pain. “But think about it, Austin. Do you really want to deprive your daughter of her grandmother just because I don’t give you any more money?”
“It’s not about money,” he exclaimed. “This is about betrayal. You’re abandoning us—your family.”
“No, Austin.” I shook my head. “I’m not abandoning you. I’m stopping letting you use me. You’ve treated me like an ATM for years, not a mother. I’ve tried to buy your love, but I’ve realized it’s gone. I will no longer pay for your disrespect.”
My words seemed to hurt him. For a moment, something like shame flashed in his eyes, but it quickly disappeared, replaced by cold fury.
“You’ll regret this,” he hissed. “I swear you’ll regret it.”
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