This time, I stayed where I was.
“No.”
Vanessa stared at me.
Her mother tried another approach.
“Surely we can all fit.
We’re family.”
“The number of beds isn’t the issue.”
“Then what is?” Vanessa demanded.
“You were told no.”
She looked genuinely furious now.
“You’re doing this to punish me.”
“No.”
“You invited Lily after I told you our plans.”
“They weren’t your plans to make.”
That landed.
Vanessa’s mouth opened, then closed.
The strange thing about finally saying something obvious is how dramatic it can sound after years of pretending it is complicated.
The house was mine.
David and I had bought it.
We had saved for it.
We had repaired it.
I had continued paying taxes, insurance, maintenance, storm preparation, and every ordinary expense that came with owning a coastal house after David died.
Vanessa had visited because I invited the family.
Somehow invitations had become expectations, and expectations had become entitlement.
I had helped that happen by never drawing a clear line.
Now the line was the front threshold beneath my feet.
Vanessa pulled out her phone.
“Fine,” she said.
“I’m calling Ethan.”
I nodded.
That surprised her.
Usually the possibility of upsetting Ethan was enough to make me retreat.
She tapped his name and put the phone to her ear.
While it rang, Ava came closer carrying a small backpack.
“Mom, are we staying here?” she asked.
Vanessa forced her voice into something lighter.
“We’re figuring it out.”
I looked at Ava.
None of this was her fault.
Mason’s either.
They had been told they were going on a beach vacation.
They had packed accordingly.
They had every reason to assume the adults had handled the details.
That responsibility belonged to Vanessa.
Ethan answered.
I could not hear his first words, but Vanessa immediately said, “Your mother is refusing to let us into the house.”
She listened.
“Yes, we’re here now.”
Another pause.
“No, Ethan, she knew we were coming.”
I folded my arms loosely.
Vanessa looked at me while she listened to him.
Then her expression changed.
“What do you mean, she told you?”
Lily glanced at me.
I said nothing.
