Chapter 3 - The Camera My Mother Forgot
Two days before the dinner, I had visited my parents’ house to collect a box of childhood books for the nursery.
While I was there, Mother complained that packages had been disappearing from the front porch.
“You understand technology,” she said. “Find us a camera that records the living room and entrance.”
I ordered two small security cameras through my personal account. The front camera covered the porch. The second sat discreetly on a bookshelf, facing the living room and front door.
Father objected when he saw it.
“I don’t want employees monitoring my private home.”
“No employees will have access,” I explained. “The footage uploads to my encrypted account. I’ll transfer ownership after I show you how it works.”
Mother became distracted by a delivery before I completed the transfer.
I forgot about it.
So did they.
The living-room camera remained registered to me.
On the evening of the dinner, it captured everything from the moment Michael and I entered the house.
It recorded Father placing the proxy documents on the side table.
It recorded Erica switching the envelopes when he left the room.
It recorded Mother removing a small container from her handbag and carrying it into the kitchen.
At the time, I noticed none of it.
I was focused on surviving the evening without another argument.
After I refused to sign the proxy, Father closed the folder and tried a different approach.
“Your grandmother trusted me to run this company.”
“Then why did she leave the largest share to Sarah?” Michael asked.
Father’s eyes narrowed.
“Because Evelyn became confused near the end.”
I felt something inside me change.
Grandmother had been clear-minded until her final week. She had reviewed every page of her estate plan. She had explained her decision to me directly.
I want someone in control who still remembers that buildings are made for people, not egos.
Father had never forgiven her.
I rose from the table.
“We’re leaving.”
Mother stood.
“You haven’t finished your tea.”
“I don’t want it.”
“You barely touched dinner. Sit down.”
A wave of dizziness moved through me.
I gripped the back of my chair.
Michael was immediately beside me.
“Sarah?”
“I’m fine. I just stood too quickly.”
Erica’s gaze moved to Mother.
The look lasted less than a second.
It was enough to make me uneasy.
Michael helped me toward the living room. The room seemed to tilt.
My heartbeat felt distant.
“Call my doctor,” I whispered.
He reached into his pocket for his phone.
Before he could unlock it, Erica stepped into him and dropped her handbag.
“Oh, sorry.”
Several items scattered across the floor.
Michael bent to help her.
Mother guided me toward the sofa.
“You’re overtired.”
“I need air.”
Father closed the curtains.
Michael gathered Erica’s belongings and stood.
His phone was no longer in his hand.
He checked both pockets.
“Where’s my phone?”
Erica held up her own.
“You probably left it in the car.”
“I was holding it.”
Mother’s voice became sharp.
“Your wife is unwell, and you are accusing her sister of stealing?”
“I didn’t accuse anyone.”
I tried to speak, but another wave of dizziness passed through me.
May you like
The porcelain cup slipped from my hand.
It shattered against the floor.
