Chapter 2 - The Appointment
On Monday morning, I called Cedar Grove.
The receptionist was cheerful until I asked who had arranged my visit.
“Your son and daughter-in-law,” she said. “They’re coming with you on Friday.”
“I won’t be there.”
A pause.
“Would you like me to cancel?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Mercer. Your son said you might be confused about the date.”
“My son is confused about who makes my decisions.”
I hung up and stood in my kitchen, staring at Robert’s old coffee mug on the windowsill.
I could still hear Stuart at thirteen, promising he would buy me a house with a swimming pool when he grew up. I hadn’t wanted a pool. I had wanted him to be kind.
That Tuesday, my car was in the shop. My neighbor Denise drove me home after lunch. I entered through the back door and heard voices in Robert’s study.
Stuart and Jennifer.
They had used the emergency key.
I stayed beside the living room wall.
“The sooner we get her into Cedar Grove, the better,” Jennifer said.
“Mom won’t go willingly.”
“Then document the incidents. Forgetting her glasses. Leaving the stove on.”
“She never left the stove on.”
“She will if someone reports it.”
I gripped the edge of the doorway.
“Dr. Campbell can evaluate her,” Jennifer continued. “If he finds diminished capacity, the power of attorney kicks in.”
Years ago, after Robert died, I had signed a document naming Stuart as my agent if I could no longer make decisions. I had trusted him with the worst day of my life.
He said, “The house should bring seven hundred thousand.”
“After Cedar Grove is paid, we can finally redo the kitchen,” Jennifer said. “Maybe take that trip to Europe.”
They talked about my silver next. Jennifer thought they could remove a few pieces at a time.
“She’ll never notice.”
I walked silently into the kitchen and put the kettle on.
When they appeared twenty minutes later, Stuart jumped.
“Mom. We didn’t know you were home.”
“I gathered that.”
“We came to check on you.”
“How thoughtful.”
Jennifer smiled. “You look tired.”
“I had a very interesting afternoon.”
Her smile faltered.
After they left, I went into Robert’s study. The fireproof box was behind his tax folders, exactly where we had always kept it.
I found the power of attorney first.
Then I found a yellow sticky note attached to a photocopy.
May you like
It was in Jennifer’s handwriting.
Ask Campbell how many incidents we need.
