PART 3

Melissa began pounding on the front door.

“You’re insane!”

From my hotel room, I watched Denise step back and call security.

Mom’s tone immediately changed.

“Emily, sweetheart, maybe everyone said things they didn’t mean.”

“You told me not to come.”

“Well…”

“Because Melissa’s children didn’t want me there.”

“They were uncomfortable.”

“With what?”

Mom hesitated.

Melissa yelled, “Because you’re miserable!”

I leaned closer to the intercom microphone.

“No, Melissa. Because I’m the only adult who tells you no.”

Kyle scoffed.

“You think owning a beach house makes you important?”

“No.”

I paused.

“Owning the beach house just means you can’t stay in it.”

Denise hid a smile.

Melissa’s face turned crimson.

Then she tossed the torn notice onto the driveway.

“Fine. Refund the six thousand.”

That was exactly what I’d been waiting for.

“Refund what?”

“The rental money!”

“You didn’t pay anything.”

“Mom said you spent six thousand!”

“I said the house normally rents for six thousand.”

Melissa stared into the camera.

“I never paid myself.”

For the first time all afternoon, everyone fell silent.

Then Kyle slowly turned toward Melissa.

“You told me Emily paid for everyone.”

“She did!”

“No,” I said. “I offered everyone a free week at a property I own.”

Mom lowered her voice.

“So there’s no money to refund?”

“Correct.”

Melissa looked furious.

“That doesn’t change anything.”

“Actually, it does.”

I opened another file on my laptop.

“Remember when you asked me to book the golf cart, boat rental, seafood dinner, and amusement park tickets?”

Her eyes narrowed.

“Yes.”

“You told me everyone would reimburse me.”

Mom suddenly looked uneasy.

Melissa crossed her arms.

“So?”

“So you never did.”

The extra charges came to $2,840.

I had invoices.

Texts.

Screenshots.

And repeated promises from Melissa that she would pay.

“I canceled everything yesterday,” I said.

Kyle spun toward her.

“You said all that was prepaid!”

Melissa ignored him.

Mom tried another tactic.

“We can talk about money later.”

“No. That’s exactly what we always do. We talk about it later, and later becomes never.”

I opened the third document.

“And one more thing.”

Melissa groaned.

“Oh my God.”

“Last year’s Christmas cabin.”

Her expression shifted.

I’d rented another property for the family that year.

Melissa’s children damaged a television, broke a sliding door, and spilled candle wax across a dining table.

Melissa blamed the property owner and insisted the security deposit would cover the damage.

Except I had owned that property too.

Repairs cost $4,700.

“I never charged you,” I said. “Because I thought helping family meant absorbing the occasional loss.”

Mom lowered her eyes.

“But apparently family means taking my money while asking me not to show up.”

A security vehicle pulled into the driveway.

Two uniformed officers approached.

Denise quietly spoke with them.

Melissa’s arrogance vanished.

She grabbed her suitcase.

“This is unbelievable.”

“No,” I said. “It’s overdue.”

Kyle began loading the luggage back into the SUV, muttering under his breath.

Mom lingered behind.

“Emily?”

“Yes?”

“Where are you?”

I looked through my hotel window at the ocean.

“With people who invited me.”

That wasn’t completely true.

I was alone.

And for the first time in years, being alone felt peaceful rather than lonely.