PART 2 : THE APPRAISER WHO WASN’T EXPECTING ME
Jessica’s smile froze the moment she spotted Olivia sitting beside me on the porch.
“Oh,” she said, blinking twice. “Olivia. I didn’t realize you were visiting.”
“Clearly,” my daughter replied, taking another sip of coffee.
Michael stood beside the SUV, looking as uncomfortable as he had the day they brought me those miserable leftovers.
The stranger with the measuring device glanced between us.
“Good morning,” he said politely. “I’m Thomas Reed. I was told we’re conducting a property valuation today.”
I smiled. “Were you also told who owns the property?”
Thomas hesitated.
Jessica immediately stepped forward.
“Thomas, this is my mother-in-law, Margaret. She’s currently staying here while we sort out some family investment matters.”
Olivia slowly lowered her coffee cup.
“Currently staying here?” she repeated.
Jessica ignored her.
“Mom, we thought it would be helpful to get an independent assessment before discussing the property’s future.”
I stood and walked toward the porch steps.
“That’s interesting, Jessica. Because I don’t recall inviting anyone to assess my property.”
Her face tightened.
“Michael and I are simply trying to protect the family’s financial interests.”
Thomas looked at his clipboard.
“Mrs. Bennett, I’m sorry, but my understanding was that your son was involved in purchasing this property.”
I turned toward Michael.
“Is that what you told him?”
Michael stared at the gravel.
“Mom, Jessica just thought…”
“I asked you a question.”
After a long silence, he muttered, “She handled the appointment.”
Olivia gave a short, humorless laugh.
“Of course she did.”
Jessica crossed her arms.
“There’s no reason to make this hostile. We’re family.”
“Family,” I repeated quietly. “That’s an interesting word coming from you.”
I went inside and returned with the manila folder I had placed on my kitchen table.
Thomas watched as I opened it.
Inside was the recorded deed, the closing statement, and documentation showing the purchase had been made entirely with my own funds.
I handed him the first page.
He studied it for several seconds.
Then he looked at Jessica.
“Mrs. Bennett is the sole legal owner listed on this deed.”
Jessica’s cheeks turned bright red.
“Yes, but that doesn’t explain the financial arrangement between her and Michael.”
“There is no financial arrangement,” I answered.
Thomas handed the document back.
“Then I’m afraid I cannot proceed with an inspection without the owner’s permission.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Jessica snapped.
Thomas calmly closed his clipboard.
“I was hired to appraise a property. I wasn’t hired to settle a family dispute.”
Olivia smiled.
“Finally, someone understands.”
Jessica turned toward Michael.
“Are you going to say anything?”
Michael rubbed his forehead.
“Jess, maybe we should just leave.”
But Jessica wasn’t finished.
She pointed toward the cottage.
“Do you have any idea how much this place could be worth in five years? You’re sitting on an investment that could secure your grandchildren’s future!”
I looked directly at her.
“My grandchildren’s future is their parents’ responsibility. My future is mine.”
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then Jessica said something that made even Thomas look uncomfortable.
“Well, Michael is your only son. Eventually, everything you own will belong to him anyway.”
Olivia stood up so quickly her chair scraped against the porch boards.
“Excuse me?”
Jessica glanced at her.
“I meant that Michael lives nearby and takes care of the practical matters.”
Olivia laughed bitterly.
“You mean the practical matters like remembering to invite Mom to her own family’s reunion?”
Michael closed his eyes.
“Olivia, please.”
“No, Michael. You don’t get to stay silent every time your wife humiliates our mother.”
Jessica grabbed her purse.
“This is unbelievable. We’re being treated like criminals for trying to help.”
I stepped down onto the gravel.
“Jessica, you came to my home without permission, brought a stranger to inspect property you don’t own, and told people my son paid for it. That’s not helping. That’s interfering.”
Her expression changed.
For the first time, she seemed genuinely worried.
Then she said quietly, “You don’t understand what’s at stake.”
I studied her.
“What exactly is at stake?”
She glanced at Michael.
He looked away.
And that small movement told me something important.
There was more happening than either of them had admitted.
Thomas excused himself and drove away.
Jessica followed him toward the vehicles, but Michael remained standing beside the porch.
“Mom,” he said softly, “we need to talk.”
“Then talk.”
He swallowed.
“Jessica told me you were planning to sell your Seattle house.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“And?”
He looked toward the SUV, where Jessica was watching us.
“She said we could count on some of that money.”
My stomach tightened.
“Count on it for what?”
Michael didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said six words that changed the entire conversation.
“Because we’ve already borrowed against it.”
I stared at him.
“Michael, what exactly have you done?”
And when he finally explained, I realized Jessica hadn’t brought that appraiser to find out what my cottage was worth.
She had brought him because a financial deadline was approaching, and my property was the only thing she believed could save them.
READ THE NEXT PART :
PART 3 – My daughter-in-law excluded me from family reunion. I bought a cottage—then she claimed it.
