At the end of every month, Mom called. ‘The mortgage is overdue. Pay it now. And send your sister $12,000 for her new house.’

to stop using me.

Now consequences had finally arrived without my having to raise my voice.

Three days later, Mom demanded a family meeting at the house.

She was waiting in the renovated kitchen I had paid for.

Dad stood beside the island, gray-faced.

Jenna sat at the table with Kyle, both furious.

Mom slapped the courier notice onto the counter.

“Fix this.”

“No.”

“You’re really going to throw your own parents into the street?”

“You have thirty days to cure the violations. The trust is not throwing anyone anywhere.”