Chapter 4 - The Quiet Change of Plans
Margaret made no announcement.
She did not confront Laura or call Michael.
She opened a notebook.
First, she canceled the large grocery delivery scheduled for December twenty-second. The store refunded most of the payment.
Then she returned several unnecessary gifts and placed the money into her savings account.
She kept one present for each grandchild.
Those were given later, on a day arranged with their parents.
Margaret called a small seaside inn in Cape Ann. Her late husband, George, had taken her there for their twenty-fifth anniversary.
One room remained available from December twenty-third through the twenty-sixth.
She booked it.
Next, she asked her neighbor Ruth to collect the mail and keep an eye on the house.
Ruth listened as Margaret explained what she had overheard.
“They planned to leave eight children without confirming you’d even be home?”
“Yes.”
“What will they do when they arrive?”
“Parent.”
Ruth smiled.
It was the first time Margaret laughed about Christmas in years.
On December twenty-second, Laura sent a message.
We’ll bring the kids around ten tomorrow. Don’t let them eat too many sweets before dinner.
Margaret did not reply.
Michael texted later.
Can you wash the blue guest-room sheets? The twins like those.
Margaret turned off the guest-room heater and closed the door.
May you like
That night, she slept more deeply than she had in weeks.
At eight the next morning, she loaded her suitcase into the SUV, locked the house, and drove away beneath Christmas lights that continued blinking for nobody.
