Walking out through the front doors, I actually felt a weight lift off my shoulders.
After all, the one who'd be suffering from here on out was the assistant.
The next evening, I went to the Chavez house for dinner as planned.
And to let them know that Clement and I were divorced.
I showed up empty-handed.
When I knocked, my former mother-in-law opened the door with a warm smile.
The moment she noticed my empty hands, that smile froze on her face.
"Meg, you're here."
"Come in."
Her voice cooled several degrees as she turned and walked back inside.
My former father-in-law took off his reading glasses and looked up curiously. "Where's the goose?"
"Didn't bring one."
I changed into house slippers and stepped inside.
Clement came out of the bedroom, glanced at me, and said nothing.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was stiff.
Four dishes: two vegetable sides and two plates of leftovers.
Halfway through the meal, Clement set down his chopsticks.
"Dad, Mom, there's something I need to tell you—"
Before he could finish, his mother cut in.
"Meg, dear, I heard your family's property is being demolished?"
My hand paused over the dishes.
Clement looked surprised. "Well, that's quite a coincidence. Both our families are getting demolition notices at the same time."
"Our house is getting demolished? Since when? How come nobody told me?" Gloria asked, confused.
"Wasn't that what you just said?"
Clement trailed off, and something seemed to click. He turned to me with a strange expression.
"The demolition you're talking about... is your family's house?!"
I ignored him. Across the table, Earl's eyes had taken on an eager gleam.
"That's right! I heard the Dickersons are getting six million dollars for the demolition!"
