That evening, as she packed, Nicole made a final call. “Mom,” she said, keeping her tone steady, “It’s time.” Her mother’s voice responded with satisfaction. Years before, she’d helped with the down payment on their home, with a stipulation Mike had overlooked: her lifetime right to reside there whenever she wished. Mike, focused on appearances, had signed the contract without reading the fine print.
The next morning in her new apartment, Nicole received a call from Mike. His voice was livid. “Your mother! She’s here, in my house, taking over everything!”
“Oh, right,” Nicole replied smoothly, “you remember the agreement you signed, about Mom’s lifetime residency, don’t you?”
Silence hung on the line as the truth hit him. In the background, she heard her mother’s voice assertively telling Mike, “Michael, get your feet off the coffee table, and hand over the remote!”
Nicole couldn’t help but smile, imagining his frustration. Freedom, she realized, had never felt so satisfying.