Chapter 5 - The In-Laws Intervene — "Chloe’s Mother Called Me A Monster. I Told Her To Pay The $650 Balance!"
By Tuesday evening, the fallout had spread beyond social media. The entitlement, it turned out, was a hereditary trait.
At 6:00 PM, a sharp knocking sounded at my door. I looked through the peephole and saw Penelope, Chloe’s mother. She was a woman who wore too much gold jewelry and always smelled like expensive perfume she couldn't actually afford.
I opened the door but left the screen door locked.
"Eleanor," Penelope said, her arms crossed, her chest heaving with righteous indignation. "We need to talk."
"I don't think we have anything to say to each other, Penelope," I said through the screen.
"You are destroying my daughter’s marriage!" she barked. "Jason and Chloe have been fighting for twenty-four hours straight! They can't pay their car note, they had to spend the day at the T-Mobile store buying cheap phones, and the kids are traumatized because they think their grandmother hates them!"
"The kids are traumatized because their parents are irresponsible," I replied smoothly. "If they are fighting, it’s because they suddenly have to face the reality of their own bills."
"You are a selfish, cold-hearted woman!" Penelope yelled, stepping closer to the screen. "A mother is supposed to sacrifice for her children! When Jason married Chloe, you became responsible for helping them build a life! You have a massive savings account from your late husband’s insurance, and you’re sitting on it like a dragon while your son struggles!"
Ah, there it was. The insurance money. My husband Arthur had passed away three years ago, leaving me with a comfortable nest egg. Chloe and Penelope had been eyeing that money since the funeral.
"My husband’s insurance money is for my retirement, Penelope," I said, my voice dropping an octave, becoming dangerous. "It is not a fund for your daughter to buy designer shoes and take vacations to Cabo while I eat canned soup."
"They need that $650 for the car payment by tomorrow or it goes to collections!" Penelope demanded. "As Jason’s mother, you are going to write that check!"
I laughed. It was a loud, genuine laugh that made Penelope’s face turn purple.
"I have a better idea," I said. "Since you are Chloe’s mother, and you are so deeply concerned about their lifestyle, why don't you write the check?"
"I... I can't afford that!" she stammered, caught off guard.
"Exactly," I said. "You can't afford it, but you expect me to. The bank of Eleanor is permanently closed, Penelope. If my son loses his car, he can take the bus. It builds character. Now, get off my porch before I call the police for trespassing."
"You'll regret this!" she shrieked as she backed down the steps. "You'll be old and lonely, dying in this house by yourself!"
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"If being alone means I don't have to listen to your voice, Penelope, then I consider it a luxury," I shouted back.
I closed the heavy wooden door and laughed all the way to the kitchen.
