Chapter 5 - The Baby Shower
The next morning, Diane taped a guest list to my refrigerator.
Eighty-three names.
I counted.
Twice.
“Diane.”
She looked over from the stove.
“Yes?”
“Take this down.”
“Why?”
“Because this party isn’t happening here.”
She didn’t even turn around.
“We’ve already discussed this.”
“No. You announced something. I told you no.”
“You’re being selfish.”
Madison entered rubbing her stomach.
“Please don’t start.”
I looked at her.
“I’m not starting anything.”
“You know stress isn’t good for the baby.”
That was apparently the new weapon.
Anything they wanted could now be justified by Madison’s pregnancy.
Eric joined us.
He saw the list.
His shoulders sagged.
“Claire, just let her have the party.”
“No.”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I said no.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“In my home, it is.”
Diane finally turned.
“There you go again. Your home. Your kitchen. Your office. Your food.”
“Yes.”
She laughed.
“That attitude is exactly why this family struggles with you.”
I stared at her.
“You struggle with the idea that I own things.”
Her eyes narrowed.
Eric stepped between us.
“Nobody cares who bought what.”
I looked directly at him.
“You should.”
He froze.
For half a second, I thought he understood.
He didn’t.
He thought I meant our marriage.
“Marriage isn’t about keeping score.”
“You’re right.”
“Then stop acting like everything belongs to you.”
I almost admired the irony.
Instead, I walked upstairs.
At noon, Rachel emailed official occupancy paperwork.
We had structured the closing to give me enough time to handle notice properly.
Rachel had warned me repeatedly.
Do everything by the book.
No tricks.
No illegal lockouts.
No dramatic garbage bags on the lawn.
I agreed.
I wanted clean hands.
That afternoon, Naomi called.
“Inspection tomorrow.”
My stomach tightened.
“Tomorrow?”
“Buyer is moving fast.”
“How long?”
“About two hours.”
I looked downstairs.
Diane had invited two cousins over to discuss decorations.
“How am I supposed to hide an inspector?”
Naomi hesitated.
“You may not be able to much longer.”
That evening, I told Eric I needed the house empty the next morning because my company was conducting a confidential executive video conference.
He barely looked up from his phone.
“Fine.”
Diane objected.
“Why do I have to leave for your job?”
“Because I need privacy.”
“This house is big enough.”
“Diane.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Fine.”
The next morning, everyone left.
The inspector arrived.
For ninety minutes, he opened electrical panels, checked plumbing, photographed the roof, tested outlets, crawled into the attic.
Everything went smoothly.
Until 10:42.
The front door opened.
Madison walked in.
She stopped.
The inspector stood in the hallway holding a moisture meter.
Naomi was beside him.
I was three feet away.
Madison stared at all three of us.
“What’s going on?”
Nobody spoke.
Her eyes dropped to the clipboard in the inspector’s hand.
Then she read the words printed across the top.
Residential Property Inspection.
Her head snapped toward me.
“Claire.”
I didn’t move.
May you like
Her voice dropped.
“Are you selling the house?”
