I thought the worst had already happened after my dad passed away. I had no idea that my stepmother and her grown children would make my grief into an even more terrible nightmare. However, my mother showed up with the one thing they didn’t anticipate.
I made the decision to live with my dad after my parents’ divorce.
Not because I didn’t love my mother; on the contrary, I cherished her. I couldn’t bear to leave my school, my friends, or the bedroom full of childhood memories, though, because she was moving to a different state. My folks got it.
I really tried to straighten things out when Dad married Sharon. She didn’t.
She hardly disguised her contempt for me. Every word she said had a faint sting, and her smiles were forced.
I was an outsider, as evidenced by the overly sweet way mom would say, “You left your plate in the sink, again.”
Mark and Lisa, her grown children, weren’t much better. As if I were some unwanted mongrel that hadn’t been thrown out yet, they would saunter in like they owned the place, plunder Dad’s kitchen, turn on the TV, and glare at me.
Dad, however, was on my side.
Always.
I was never pushed around by him. Sharon would deflect if he became snippy. Dad would quickly silence my stepbrother Mark if he began to say something offensive. He served as a barrier separating me from each of them. And it was tolerable because of it. That arrived at home.
Then he passed away.
As simple as that. A random Tuesday heart attack. I was still in shit when the funeral took place. I was completely in the zone and felt as though I was floating through it.
They all stated the same things: He was a decent man. He cherished you greatly. He is now in a better place. I wanted to yell at each of them.
I didn’t want to return to the house after the service. The recollections were simply too numerous. Too much stress. Therefore, I spent the night at my closest friend Maddy’s house, which is only a few blocks away.
Her family recognized that I simply needed time to get my thoughts straight.
I went home on foot the following morning.
I should have realized something wasn’t right. The porch was crowded, but the road was deserted.
with everything I own. Like trash, my books, clothes, the photo of me and Dad fishing when I was eight, and a lot more were thrown into cardboard boxes.
One of the boxes had a sweater hanging halfway out that I believed I had lost.
Perplexed, I blinked at it. “What the fuck?”
I sprinted to the door after dropping my luggage.
locked.
I turned the knob back and forth and knocked more forcefully. The door opened at that moment, and Sharon was standing there looking smug and with her arms crossed.
Mark smirked as he leaned against the wall of the corridor behind her. Lisa, his sister, was seated on the inside stairs, hardly glancing up as she browsed through her phone.
“You really didn’t think you were going to stay here, did you?” With a head tilt, Sharon spoke. “This is a family home.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
She continued, “This was your father’s house.” Now that he’s gone, it’s my turn as his wife, and it’s time for my family to go on. I advise you to follow suit.
I was devastated. and without a place to live. Only a few days after my father’s funeral.
“You’re kicking me out?” I muttered.
Lisa smirked at me after she finally looked up from her phone and chuckled softly. Mark’s smile was pretty much the same.
My voice broke as I responded, “You have no right.”
Sharon laughed. “Oh, my dear. Yes, I do. Please gather your belongings and depart now. I’ll be forced to call the cops if you don’t.
She closed the door in my face after saying that. I frantically grabbed my backpack, a tote bag full of clothes, and the framed photo of me and Dad because I knew she would follow through on her promise.
I dropped it once due to my trembling fingers. I sensed that someone was watching me while I was still in the yard. Mrs. Jenkins, our neighbor, was observing from her porch.
“I have a spare couch if you need somewhere to go,” she whispered softly as she approached.
Probably I should have returned to Maddy’s, but I was so s.h.ock.ed that I could hardly thank the gracious older woman and nod.
That evening, as the porch light barely made it through the living room window, I sat on her couch and held my knees to my chest.
I felt insignificant. Lost. It was as if everything that was solid in my life had broken.
I then took out my phone. This was not what I wanted to do.
In order to support me, my mom had been unable to take time off work to attend Dad’s funeral. However, I was at a loss for what to do.
So I gave her a call.
“Mom?” She became concerned the moment my voice broke. “No, I’m all right. Well, not really, I mean. It’s Sharon. The locks were replaced by her. She threw me out, saying the residence was for family.
“What?”
“I’m at Mrs. Jenkins’ now, but I know you couldn’t come due to work. Tomorrow, I suppose I could take a bus—
“No,” Mom interrupted. “You remain where you are. In a few hours, I will be there.
She then hung up. Through the night, she drove.
I heard her car come into Mrs. Jenkins’s driveway at around six the following morning. I went barefoot outside.
I leaped into her arms as soon as she stepped outside.
I remained silent for a while. She didn’t either.
Then she stepped back and gave me a direct look.
“I have to tell you something, sweetie. She said, “Something he didn’t want you to know.” “And he didn’t want Sharon and her children to know anything else either.”
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
She inhaled deeply. “Sweetheart, the reason we split up is the reason I didn’t drive up for your dad’s funeral. I betrayed him. He wouldn’t have desired for me to be there. We finished badly, but we did a good job of hiding it. Without even looking into my eyes, she admitted, “None of us wanted you to know the truth.” “I was also really embarrassed.”
I muttered, “You must be kidding me.” Dropping such a bombshell was not the right moment!
“I understand. I’m telling you now because I was terrible,” she said, pausing to swallow. “I wanted to find a way to make it right. After the divorce, I made a single, large payment to pay off the full mortgage. I also assured your father that it would always be his house and yours, even though the deed was in my name.
I shook my head and moved away from her. “Did you get away with it? Even after…?
“Yeah, but he always wanted to give it to you someday,” she added.
“This is unbelievable.”
Mom insisted, “I know it’s a lot to take in.” However, Cynthia, since your dad never owned the house, it follows that Sharon does not. And to prove it, I presented the deed.
Mrs. Jenkins’ voice registered at that precise time. Why don’t you both enter the house? She looked between us and smiled kindly. “It looks like you have a real eviction to figure out,” she said.
At last, I also smiled. “All right,” I inhaled.
***
Until the weekend, we waited. Sharon had gone somewhere with her children.
On Saturday morning, Mom gave a locksmith a call.
While the man was changing the locks, I stood there. observed Mom coolly instructing a moving firm to neatly pack Sharon’s and her children’s belongings and lay them all out on the lawn.
I heard their car arrive early on Monday morning.
I didn’t even need to search. The cry reached my ears.
“What on earth is this?” Like a siren, Sharon’s voice pierced the atmosphere.
I did, however, peer through the glass. She had heavy eyes and was wearing a travel sweater and slippers. Lisa was crying and Mark was yelling behind her.
“This house belongs to us!” Sharon let out a cry. “Open this door immediately!”
With the deed in one hand, Mom unlocked it and stepped out gently. “Oh,” she answered, remaining composed. “I believe there was a minor miscommunication. This isn’t your residence.
As Sharon gazed at the page, her mouth fell open. “What is that?”
Mom went on, “It’s the deed to the house.” “I possess it. You see? My former spouse never did. You unjustly evicted my daughter, then. I just fixed your error.
Mark tried to push by her while making a dog-snarling noise.
Mom got in the path of him. “I’ll call the police if you get any closer.”
He came to a halt.
They continued for around ten minutes. Sharon was in tears. Lisa let out a loud cry as she fell onto a crate. Additionally, the disturbance must have prompted another neighbor to call the police.
While Sharon, Mark, and Lisa attempted to play the victim in front of the authorities, we were forced to explain everything. Ultimately, they had nothing to support their claims.
They had to gather their belongings and drive away after the police ordered them to leave. We stayed inside the house and saw it all.
We sat on the couch after they left, and I felt as though I could breathe normally again.
“Are you alright?” Mom inquired.
I gave a nod. “Better.”
She grinned. That being said, as soon as you turn 18, we will transfer the deed into your name. Only a few weeks remain until then. I wish for you to have an untouchable future.
I remained silent for a while. I simply gave her a hug.
I didn’t care about her past actions at the time. That could wait.
I could just unwind and genuinely grieve over my father for the time being—safely, in our house.
