That night, after rescuing Hannah from the rain, I sat awake until morning — not crying, not angry, just resolute. By sunrise, I called Jonathan. “She locked us out,” I said.
At his office, he reviewed everything carefully. “You’re the trustee,” he said. “Your mother has no legal standing. I’ll draft the eviction notice now.”
When he handed me the papers, he asked, “Do you want to serve it personally?”
I shook my head. “No. I’ve had enough doors slammed in my face.”
When the Truth Arrived on Her Doorstep
An hour later, Jonathan delivered the notice himself. I waited in the car down the street.
My mother opened the door, impatient and dismissive — until she saw the first line. Her face drained of color. Brittany appeared, snatched the papers, and began shouting.
Jonathan said something polite, perhaps explaining the law. Then he walked back to me and said simply, “Served.”
That night, I expected to feel victorious. Instead, I just felt tired — like a weight had finally slid off my chest.
But the fight wasn’t over. My mother immediately hired an attorney, claiming I had “influenced” my father while he was ill. Jonathan filed for emergency possession. I submitted a police report describing how she’d locked Hannah out in the rain. The officer’s words still echo in my mind: “That’s neglect. You did the right thing.”
The Day Everything Came Full Circle
When the sheriff arrived to enforce the order, I parked down the street, heart pounding. I didn’t want Hannah to see it.
Two deputies knocked on the door. Voices rose inside — my mother’s outrage, Brittany’s wailing. The door opened, and there she stood, pointing at me from the porch. “She forged everything!”
The deputy didn’t flinch. “Ma’am, we have a court order.”
They were given fifteen minutes to gather essentials. My mother laughed in disbelief, but the deputies didn’t budge. Brittany cried. Ryan, her husband, muttered under his breath.
When my mother finally stepped out, she paused on the threshold, eyes blazing. “I hope you’re proud,” she spat.
I wasn’t. I was simply free.
