Chapter 2: The Woman Who Thought She Owned My House
Friday afternoon arrived with the subtlety of a marching band.
At 1:47 p.m., I heard the first engine.
Then another.
Then a third.
Three cars turned into our gravel driveway, kicking up clouds of dust behind them.
I stood on the front porch with a glass of iced tea.
I wasn't wearing an apron.
The grill wasn't lit.
And there wasn't a single platter of food waiting on the picnic table.
For once, my kitchen was clean, my hair was done, and I had absolutely no intention of spending the afternoon sweating over a barbecue.
Juliette climbed out of the first car.
She wore an oversized white sun hat, large sunglasses, and a floral dress that looked expensive enough to cover our monthly grocery bill.
Tammy emerged from the second vehicle, carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag.
Carla stepped out of the third, also carrying a Louis Vuitton handbag.
Between them were six children.
They immediately began running toward the yard.
"Annie!""
Juliette opened her arms and swept me into a hug.
Her perfume was so strong I could practically taste it.
"I hope you've got everything ready. We're absolutely starving!""
She released me before I could respond and walked straight into the house.
"Come on, girls! Let's get settled!""
I remained on the porch.
"Good afternoon, Juliette.""
She didn't turn around.
Inside, I heard the familiar sound of furniture scraping across the wooden floor.
I closed my eyes briefly.
Of course.
The old oak sideboard.
When I entered the hallway, Juliette had both hands pressed against it, dragging it three feet to the left.
"Juliette, please don't move that.""
She straightened.
"Oh, Annie. It blocks the flow.""
"It's been there for years.""
"And I've been telling you for years that it doesn't belong there.""
I looked at the sideboard.
Then at her.
"Well, it belongs here. Wade's father built it.""
Her expression changed slightly.
"Your father-in-law had some strange ideas about furniture.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Please leave it where it is.""
Juliette let out a theatrical sigh.
"Fine. I was only trying to help.""
She walked away.
But before leaving, she glanced at the bottom drawer.
Again.
I noticed.
Tammy was already stretched across my living room couch.
She had removed her shoes and placed her feet on the coffee table.
"Annie, what time is dinner?""
I looked at the clock.
"Hello to you too, Tammy.""
She laughed.
"You're funny.""
Carla had opened my refrigerator.
"Do you have any sparkling water?""
"No.""
"Really? You never have sparkling water?""
"I usually buy it when I know someone who drinks it is coming.""
She looked over her shoulder.
"Well, I'm here now.""
"Then the grocery store is ten minutes away.""
Carla stared at me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she closed the refrigerator.
"You're in a mood today.""
"Maybe.""
The children were already making a mess.
Two boys had found the garden hose and were spraying each other near my vegetable beds.
A little girl was pulling flowers from the front garden.
Another child had dragged a muddy football across the porch.
"Hey, sweethearts," I called.
"Please stay off the flower beds.""
One of the boys turned toward me.
"Grandma said we can play anywhere!""
I looked toward Juliette.
She was examining the framed family photographs on the wall.
"Juliette?""
"Yes, Annie?""
"Could you remind the children to stay out of the flower beds?""
She barely glanced at them.
"They're children. Let them enjoy themselves.""
"They're pulling up the flowers.""
"They'll grow back.""
I looked at the little girl holding a fistful of my petunias.
"Those took me weeks to grow.""
Juliette shrugged.
"Gardening is supposed to be relaxing.""
Tammy laughed from the couch.
"Mom, leave her alone. She's very attached to her flowers.""
They all laughed.
I didn't.
I went into the kitchen and placed a glass of water on the counter.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Wade.
*Wade:*
Still at the hardware store. Need anything?
I typed:
Your mother is here. She's already moved the furniture.
His reply came almost immediately.
Just ignore her. I'll be home soon.
I stared at the message.
Then I put the phone down.
I wasn't going to spend another holiday waiting for my husband to defend me.
Not this time.
A few minutes later, Juliette appeared in the kitchen.
She opened the pantry and examined the shelves.
"Where are the chips?""
"I haven't bought any.""
She turned.
"What?""
"I haven't bought chips.""
"Well, the children need snacks.""
"There's a grocery store in town.""
Juliette stared at me.
Then she placed her hands on her hips.
"Annie, I don't understand what's happening with you today.""
"Nothing is happening.""
"You're being awfully difficult.""
I leaned against the counter.
"Did you bring anything for the weekend?""
She blinked.
"What do you mean?""
"Food. Drinks. Snacks. Anything?""
Her mouth opened slightly.
Then she laughed.
"Oh, Annie. You know we're guests.""
"Yes. I know.""
"Guests don't bring groceries. The host provides.""
I nodded slowly.
"Interesting.""
She seemed satisfied with my response.
"Exactly. Now, I told the girls we'd have barbecue around six. The children are hungry, so perhaps you can make them something in the meantime.""
I glanced at the clock.
It was 2:16.
"Did you hear what I asked you?""
Juliette's smile disappeared.
"Honestly, Annie. What is this about?""
"Nothing. I'm just curious whether anyone thought to bring something.""
She looked offended.
"After all these years, are you really going to count every little thing?""
I almost laughed.
Every little thing.
Thirty-two hundred dollars.
Forty ears of corn.
Two briskets.
Three months of groceries.
Hours of cleaning.
Broken decorations.
A flower bed full of trash.
But to Juliette, it was all nothing.
She walked closer and lowered her voice.
"Listen, honey. Family takes care of family. That's how Wade was raised.""
"Then perhaps Wade should take care of the groceries.""
Her eyes narrowed.
"Don't bring Wade into this.""
I stared at her.
"You just did.""
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she picked up her phone.
"Tammy! Come here a minute!""
Her daughter appeared in the doorway.
"What?""
"Your sister-in-law seems to be upset about having company.""
Tammy looked at me.
"Seriously?""
I crossed my arms.
"I asked whether you brought anything for the weekend.""
Tammy rolled her eyes.
"Annie, we drove all the way out here. That should count for something.""
"Gas money isn't going into my refrigerator.""
"Wow.""
Carla appeared behind her.
"What's going on?""
"Apparently, we need to pay admission to eat here now," Tammy announced.
Carla laughed.
"Maybe we should put dollar bills on the table.""
Juliette shook her head.
"I don't know where this attitude came from. Wade never used to be this difficult.""
I looked at her.
"Wade isn't the one standing in the kitchen.""
That ended the conversation.
At least temporarily.
I walked outside to check on the children.
The little girl had left muddy footprints across the porch.
A football had knocked over one of my flowerpots.
One of the boys was climbing onto the wooden railing.
I stopped him before he could fall.
"Please get down.""
He laughed.
"Grandma says it's okay.""
"Your grandma doesn't own this porch.""
He stared at me.
Then he climbed down.
When I returned inside, Juliette was standing in the hallway.
She had moved the sideboard again.
This time, the bottom drawer was slightly open.
I stopped.
"What are you looking for?""
She jumped.
"Nothing.""
"You were looking inside the drawer.""
"I'm checking something.""
"Checking what?""
She closed it quickly.
"Your father-in-law used to keep important papers in here.""
"I know.""
"Well, I was just making sure nothing was missing.""
I studied her face.
"Why would anything be missing?""
She adjusted her sunglasses.
"Don't be ridiculous, Annie.""
Then she walked toward the living room.
I remained beside the sideboard.
There was something about her reaction that bothered me.
Juliette had never shown any interest in that furniture beyond moving it around.
But today, she had checked the same drawer twice.
I pulled it open.
Inside were old family photographs, a few handwritten recipes, and a leather folder.
The folder belonged to Wade's father.
I remembered seeing it years ago, shortly after we moved into the farmhouse.
He had kept important property papers and family documents inside.
I had never examined them.
I took the folder out and opened it.
Most of the papers were old insurance documents and receipts.
But one envelope had my name written on it.
Not Wade's.
Mine.
*Annie.*
My stomach tightened.
The handwriting was unmistakable.
It belonged to Wade's father, Robert.
I opened the envelope carefully.
Inside was a folded letter.
And beneath it was a small document with an official county seal.
I heard footsteps approaching.
"Annie?""
I quickly placed the papers back inside.
Juliette stood at the entrance to the hallway.
Her eyes went straight to the envelope in my hand.
For the first time since I'd known her, she looked genuinely frightened.
"Where did you get that?"" she asked.
I held up the envelope.
"It was in the drawer.""
She walked toward me.
"Give it to me.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because it belongs to the family.""
I looked down at the handwriting.
"My name is on it.""
"Your father-in-law made mistakes when he was sick.""
"What mistakes?""
She reached for the envelope.
I stepped back.
"Juliette, what's in this letter?""
Her face hardened.
"Nothing you need to worry about.""
May you like
Then she said something that made the entire room feel colder.
"Robert promised me that you would never see those papers.""
