The next morning I drove to Margaret’s large house overlooking the river.
My hands were shaking when I rang the doorbell.
She opened the door herself.
We stared at each other for a long moment.
Then I did something I never thought I would do.
I dropped to my knees.
“Please don’t cut Daniel out of the business,” I said desperately. “I don’t care what happens to him, but please think about the children.”
“Good heavens, Claire, get up!”
I stood as she placed her hands on my shoulders.
“What are you talking about?”
I explained everything Daniel had told me.
Her lips tightened.
“That sneaky little—” She stopped herself. Then she wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Come inside. Daniel clearly didn’t tell you everything.”
Inside, she poured tea and we sat at her long dining table.
“I am cutting Daniel out of the business and my will,” she said calmly. “Nothing will change that.”
“But—”
She gave me the look.
“Margaret, please don’t give me that look,” I said, gathering my courage. “If he has no income, he won’t be able to pay child support. Those are your grandchildren.”
Her expression softened slightly.
“It’s good to see you’ve grown a backbone, Claire,” she said. “But Daniel left out the most important part.”
“What part?”
“I’m not abandoning my grandchildren,” she said. “From now on, you will receive the same amount Daniel used to earn — paid directly to you from my personal account. It’s for the children.”
Tears filled my eyes.
“And as for the inheritance,” she continued calmly, “I would much rather leave my estate to the eight children he abandoned.”
I stood up and hugged her.
For a moment she stiffened in surprise, then gently patted my back.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“I’m so sorry for what he did to you,” she said softly. “His behavior is disgraceful.”
I pulled out my phone.
“I’m going to call him.”
She nodded.
Daniel answered immediately.
“Claire? Did you convince her?”
I glanced at Margaret across the table.
“No,” I said calmly. “Your attempt to manipulate me didn’t work. Your mother explained everything.”
“What? But you two hate each other! What did you say to her? This is your fault!”
“Daniel,” I said quietly, “everything that’s happening to you is your own fault.”
Then I hung up.
Across the table, Margaret calmly lifted her teacup and took a slow sip.
For the first time in twenty years, she and I were finally on the same side.
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