Chapter 8 - THE DAY MICHAEL STOPPED NEGOTIATING
Michael drove to Susan’s condo the following morning.
He handed her a formal letter prepared by Rachel.
Susan read two paragraphs and looked up.
“You’re banning me from seeing my granddaughter?”
Michael almost laughed at the word.
“You don’t get to use that title when it’s convenient.”
Susan’s expression sharpened.
“I raised you better than this.”
“You raised me to ignore you when keeping peace was easier.”
“Emma has poisoned you against your family.”
“She’s six.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
He stepped closer to the storm door.
“You mean she isn’t blood.”
Susan said nothing.
“That’s what this is.”
“Dana’s girls need stability.”
“So does Emma.”
“She has you.”
“And that’s supposed to make what you did acceptable?”
Susan opened the door farther.
“I was trying to keep the property in the family.”
“It already is in the family.”
Her mouth tightened.
“You know what I mean.”
There it was.
Michael felt something permanent break.
“No. Say it.”
Susan stared at him.
“Say what family means to you.”
She refused.
He did it for her.
“Lily and Brooke count. Emma doesn’t.”
“That is not what I said.”
“It’s what you built an entire plan around.”
Michael informed her she no longer had authorization to contact the lender, school, estate attorney, or anyone connected to Emma’s trust.
Susan’s anger finally cracked into fear.
“You cannot cut your own mother out because of paperwork.”
“I’m cutting you out because you hurt my daughter.”
He turned to leave.
Susan called after him.
“Dana will choose me.”
Michael stopped.
“No.”
He looked back.
“She already gave me the documents.”
Susan’s face changed completely.
For the first time, she understood that Dana was no longer dependent on Susan’s version of events.
Michael walked away.
Behind him, Susan shouted his name once.
He did not turn.
That afternoon, Susan did something that proved the boundary was necessary.
She showed up at Emma’s elementary school and attempted to take her home.
The office refused.
Michael received the call at work.
His hands shook so badly he had to sit down.
Susan had been formally told to stay away that morning.
She went anyway.
May you like
Now this was no longer a family disagreement.
It was a pattern of ignoring his authority as Emma’s father.
