“Oh, you know me, sweetheart. Just finished dinner and was about to watch the news.”
I didn’t mention it was leftovers from three days ago, or that I’d been staring at Ellen’s photo on the mantle for the better part of an hour.
“Are you eating enough? You know, you can always order groceries online now, right? I showed you the app.”
“I’m eating plenty. I interrupted gently, though I had a little scare yesterday. Forgot to turn off the burner under my coffee pot. Good thing I smelled it burning from the living room.”
There was a pause. I could picture her frowning in that way she’d inherited from her mother, the same little crease between her eyebrows.
“Dad, maybe we should talk about getting someone to check on you more regularly. Jeremy thinks—”
“I’m fine, Caitlyn. Really. How’s your business trip going? You’re in Phoenix, right?”
“Yes, the conference ends tomorrow. Jeremy’s been handling most of the client meetings while I sit through these endless presentations about digital marketing trends.”
She laughed, but it sounded forced.
“Listen, Dad, I should probably get going. Jeremy and I have dinner plans with some potential investors.”
“Of course, sweetheart. I love you.”
“Love you too, Dad. Take care of yourself, okay?”
I heard a click, then rustling sounds. She must have dropped the phone in her purse, I thought, reaching to hang up my end. But then I heard voices, muffled but clear enough through her phone’s microphone.
“Jeremy, you see how he’s deteriorating?” Caitlyn’s voice, no longer warm and caring. “He forgot to turn off the stove yesterday. What if he burns the house down?”
My hand froze on the receiver. Ice spread through my chest.
“It’s time for a nursing home, Caitlyn.” Jeremy’s voice, cold and matter-of-fact. “He’s becoming a burden, and you know it. Your dad’s a good man, but he can’t live alone anymore. The house is worth almost a million now.”
Caitlyn’s tone had shifted to pure calculation.
“With Denver’s market, we could probably get $900,000, maybe more.”
