Chapter 8 - The White Rental Van
At 9:52 Monday morning, the white rental van turned into the driveway.
Claire stood in the entryway holding Ava. Marlene waited inside Daniel’s study, out of view.
Her mother climbed out first in a beige coat and patterned scarf. Tyler followed with a duffel bag and a cardboard box labeled downstairs office.
There was no greeting.
Her mother rolled the purple suitcase across the threshold.
“We’re moving in,” she announced. “This house is family property now.”
Claire’s pulse hammered, but she remembered Marlene’s instruction.
Make them explain.
“Who told you that?”
“Tyler spoke to someone at the county.”
Tyler dropped his bag on the floor. “The paperwork is handled.”
“What paperwork?”
“The agreement you signed.”
“I signed nothing.”
Her mother rolled her eyes. “You signed enough documents after Daniel died. You cannot remember every page.”
The cruelty of it struck Claire harder than shouting would have.
They were using her grief as their defense.
Tyler stepped farther inside.
“Mom already picked the downstairs bedroom.”
Claire blocked the hall.
Then her mother said the sentence that ended every remaining doubt.
“If you complain, you can leave. We’ll raise Ava here.”
She reached for the baby.
Claire jerked back.
May you like
“Don’t touch my child.”
Behind them, the study door opened.
