Chapter 2 - I SENT CHLOE AN INVOICE OF MY OWN
Chloe was waiting in the kitchen at 8:05 the following morning.
Coffee in hand.
Hair perfect.
Her invoice on the counter.
“Morning.”
“Good morning.”
“Did you get the money?”
I placed an envelope beside her.
Her smile widened.
“That wasn’t difficult, was it?”
“Open it.”
She did.
The smile lasted approximately four seconds.
Then vanished.
“What is this?”
“My invoice.”
Her eyes moved down the page.
“Housekeeping?”
“Yes.”
“Childcare?”
“Yes.”
“Meal preparation?”
“Yes.”
She laughed sharply.
“You cannot charge me for helping your own grandchildren.”
“You charged me for sleeping near them.”
“That is different.”
“How?”
“This is my home.”
“And that was my labor.”
“You volunteered.”
“So did you when you invited me.”
Her face reddened.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Possibly.”
I sipped my coffee.
“But according to your rules, every resource used in a household has a price.”
“You're being petty.”
“I'm applying your accounting method.”
“I’m not paying this.”
“Fine.”
She blinked.
“Fine?”
“Then I won't pay yours.”
“You owe me.”
“Then deduct it from what you owe me.”
Her mouth opened.
Closed.
I almost admired the system shutting down in real time.
Then:
“I’m calling Julian.”
“Please do.”
That stopped her.
“You think he'll take your side?”
“I think he should see both invoices.”
Chloe snatched her phone.
Then stopped.
Julian was already flying home.
She decided against calling.
“Leave.”
I looked at her.
“You're asking me to go?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent.”
I went upstairs.
My suitcase was already packed.
Maya appeared in the doorway.
“Grandma?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Are you leaving?”
My chest tightened.
“Yes.”
“But Daddy comes home tonight.”
“I know.”
“Mom said you made her mad.”
I knelt.
“Adults disagree sometimes. That's not your job to fix.”
She hugged me.
Lucas arrived behind her.
“Who makes pancakes tomorrow?”
There it was.
I kissed his forehead.
“Maybe Daddy.”
He looked horrified.
“Daddy burns them.”
“Then he'll learn.”
I carried my suitcase downstairs.
Chloe stood beside the front door.
“Your check?”
“No.”
“You agreed to pay this morning.”
“I agreed you'd receive an answer.”
“That’s not what you said.”
“Then sue me.”
Her face changed.
She had expected embarrassment.
Not resistance.
I placed the original $2,000 invoice inside my purse.
Important.
I wanted it preserved.
At the doorway, I turned.
“One more thing.”
“What?”
“Please don't tell the children I refused to pay because I’m cheap.”
She scoffed.
“Why would I?”
“Because you've already told Maya I made you mad.”
Chloe crossed her arms.
“You think very highly of yourself.”
“No.”
I opened the door.
“I just listen when children repeat adults.”
Then I left.
I drove home.
My small bungalow felt almost luxurious after one week of unpaid domestic service.
I made tea.
Put my feet up.
At 6:31 p.m., my phone rang.
Julian.
I let it ring twice before answering.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“Mom.”
His voice sounded exhausted.
“What happened?”
“Which version did you hear?”
“Chloe says you stayed here all week, insulted her, demanded almost four thousand dollars, then stormed out without paying your share of expenses.”
I smiled.
“Interesting.”
“Mom.”
“Did she mention inviting me?”
“Yes.”
“Cleaning?”
A pause.
“She said you helped.”
“Childcare?”
“Of course. You're their grandmother.”
“Groceries?”
Silence.
“Julian?”
“No.”
“Did she mention the invoice she gave me first?”
Longer silence.
“What invoice?”
There it was.
I sent him a photograph.
His phone buzzed.
He opened it.
Nothing for several seconds.
Then:
“She charged you two thousand dollars?”
“Yes.”
“For staying at our house?”
“Yes.”
“She invited you.”
“Yes.”
Another silence.
Then:
“Mom, don't do anything.”
“I already left.”
“I mean don't call Chloe.”
“I have no reason to.”
“Let me talk to her.”
“Julian.”
“What?”
“Do not make this about persuading her to apologize so everything goes back to normal.”
He breathed out.
“I know.”
“No, you don't yet.”
Then I said:
“Ask the children what this week looked like.”
He went quiet.
“Why?”
“Because adults edit.”
I looked at my own empty kitchen.
May you like
“Children usually don't.”
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