“Good heavens, Claire, get up!”
I got up.
She put both hands on my shoulders. “What on earth are you talking about?”
I told her what Daniel had said when I called him back. Her lips drew into a tight line.
“That sneaky little—” she stopped herself. Then she put an arm around my shoulders. “Come inside. Daniel didn’t tell you everything.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
Inside, she poured tea. We sat at the long dining table, and Margaret folded her hands in front of her.
“I am cutting Daniel out of the business and my will, and there is nothing you can say to convince me otherwise.”
“But—”
She silenced me with “the look,” but I couldn’t afford to back down this time.
“Margaret, don’t give me that look.”
She blinked.
I couldn’t afford to back down this time.
I pressed on. “I won’t pretend I wasn’t pleased when I first heard this news, but if you cut Daniel off, he won’t be able to pay child support. Those are your grandchildren we’re talking about.”
Something shifted on her face. “It’s good to see you’ve finally grown a backbone, Claire, but let me finish. Daniel didn’t tell you the most important part of what I said to him.”
“What do you mean?”
Margaret adjusted her teacup. “I’m not going to leave my grandchildren in the lurch. You will now receive the same amount he was earning, paid directly to you from my personal account. For the children.”
“Daniel didn’t tell you the most important part.”
Tears stung my eyes.
“And as for the inheritance… I would rather leave my estate to the eight children he abandoned.”
I stood up. And I did something I had never, ever imagined myself doing.
I hugged Margaret.
She went stiff for half a second. Then her hands came up and patted my back.
“Thank you,” I murmured into her shoulder.
She went stiff for half a second.
“I’m so sorry for what he did to you,” she breathed. “His behavior is utterly reprehensible.”
I stepped back and wiped my eyes quickly. Then I pulled out my phone.
“I’m going to call him. Let him know how this went.”
Margaret nodded once and lifted her teacup.
He answered fast. “Claire? Did you get her to change her mind?”
I glanced across the table at Margaret. “No. Your attempt to manipulate me failed, Daniel. Your mother explained everything.”
“Did you get her to change her mind?”
“What? But-but you two hate each other. Why would she — you! What did you say to her? This is all your fault!”
“Daniel, everything that’s happened to you is your own fault.”
I hung up.
Across the table, Margaret lifted her teacup to her lips with complete composure and took a slow, unhurried sip.
For the first time in 20 years, Margaret and I were on the same side.
“But you two hate each other.”
