Chapter 6 - The Extended Family Meeting — "They Tried To Put Me In My Place. I Brought The Invoices."
By Thursday, the drama had divided the entire extended family. My brother David, who always tried to play the peacemaker, called a mandatory "family meeting" at his house to resolve the issue.
"Eleanor, please just come," David pleaded. "Jason and Chloe are desperate. The whole family is uncomfortable. Let's just sit down and talk like adults."
"I'll come, David," I said. "But I’m bringing my own entertainment."
When I arrived at David’s house at 7:00 PM, the living room felt like a courtroom. Jason and Chloe sat on the couch, looking exhausted and sullen. Chloe had a new, cheap Android phone clutched in her hand, looking at it with utter disdain. My sister-in-law Martha was there, along with David and two of our cousins.
As I walked in, Chloe glared at me, but she didn't say a word. The Facebook post had humbled her just enough to keep her tongue behind her teeth.
David cleared his throat. "Okay, thank you everyone for coming. Eleanor, Jason, we want to resolve this. Family shouldn't be at war. Eleanor, your actions were very sudden. Cutting off their phones and their car payment... don't you think that was a bit extreme?"
I sat down in an armchair, placing my purse on my lap. "Extreme, David? Let’s ask Jason. Jason, when you stood in your backyard on Sunday and told me that if I didn't work for you for free every weekend, you would abandon me when I was old... did you think that was extreme?"
Jason looked down at his shoes. "I was mad, Mom. I didn't mean it."
"You did mean it," I said. "You thought you had leverage over me. You thought I was a lonely old woman who would tolerate abuse just to see her grandchildren."
"We just need help, Eleanor!" Chloe burst out, unable to control herself any longer. "We work hard! We are tired! Is it so terrible to ask a grandmother to help with her grandkids?!"
"You didn't ask, Chloe," I said sharply. "You demanded. You announced it to a crowd to trap me. You weaponized my grandchildren against me. And that is why you lost your privileges."
"Fine!" Chloe cried. "We don't need your money! We don't need your childcare! But you ruined our credit score! You ruined our reputation on Facebook! You owe us an apology!"
"An apology?" I reached into my purse. I didn't pull out the folder this time. I pulled out a legal document.
"This is an invoice from my attorney," I said, placing it on the coffee table.
Everyone leaned forward to look.
"Four years ago, Jason, you asked me to co-sign on your first apartment after college. I didn't just co-sign; I paid the $3,000 security deposit. You never paid me back. Three years ago, when you bought that SUV, you put my name on the title so you could get a lower interest rate. Technically, I own 50% of that vehicle."
Jason’s face went completely pale.
"Since you cannot afford the $650 payment this month," I continued, "and since you have proven to be an ungrateful investment, I am giving you a choice. Either you buy out my half of the car title for $15,000 by next Friday, or I am legally forcing the sale of the vehicle to liquidate my asset."
"Mom, no!" Jason gasped, standing up. "You can't sell my car! How am I supposed to get to work?!"
"You can take the $15,000 and buy a used sedan, Jason," I said calmly. "Like a normal person who lives within their means."
Chloe looked like she was about to faint. My brother David sat back in his chair, completely speechless. Martha was biting her lip to hide a smile.
May you like
"You're a monster," Chloe whispered, tears finally streaming down her face. "You're destroying our family."
"No, Chloe," I said, standing up and smoothing down my skirt. "I am teaching my son a lesson his father should have taught him years ago. Actions have consequences. Welcome to the real world."
