“Clear your things off MY lawn before I call the cops!” My daughter-in-law, Jessica, screamed at me. After my father passed away, she threw all my family’s belongings out, claiming she had inherited the house. But minutes later, my son, Matt, arrived, and karma hit her hard.
When my dad’s lawyer called for the will reading, I was sorting through old memories. I asked my son, Matt, to go instead of me.
“Are you sure, Mom? Need help with Grandpa’s stuff?” Matt asked.
“I’m okay,” I replied. “Come by later, and you can take anything special you want to remember him by.”
I thought the will reading would go smoothly. I was so wrong.
At the nursing home, the smell of antiseptic and wilted flowers stung my throat. A young nurse handed me Dad’s belongings in a worn cardboard box.
“Here you go, Ma’am,” she said softly.
I murmured thanks and took the box. It wasn’t heavy, but it felt like the weight of all my memories pressed down on me. Inside were his favorite old sweater, a small Bible, and some mystery novels.
I clutched the sweater, his faint cologne still lingering. The reality of his loss hit me as I left the nursing home.
Dad was really gone. I held the box tightly and cried alone in my car until I couldn’t cry anymore. Matt had been calling, but sometimes grief must be faced alone.
When I arrived home, I couldn’t believe what I saw—my whole life scattered on the front lawn like trash.
The wind whipped through the piles of boxes. My mom’s old recipes, Dad’s books, and even his favorite quilt were thrown about carelessly. My heart raced as I rushed out of the car.
“What’s going on?” I muttered.
Jessica, lounging on my patio furniture, didn’t even look up from her phone. She smirked, sipping coffee.
“Jessica, what is all this?” I demanded, staring at the mess.
“Oh, I’m just clearing out. It’s my house now,” she said, waving a piece of paper with my dad’s signature. “Guess your dad thought I deserved it more.”
I stumbled, gripping my car door. “Dad would never—”
“But he did,” Jessica said smugly.
I was still reeling when Matt’s truck pulled up. He got out, confused by the scene.
“Jessica, what’s going on?” he asked, his brow furrowed.
She stood up, looking far too satisfied. “I’m making changes, Matt. And by the way, I want a divorce.”
Matt was stunned. “What? You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I am,” Jessica said coldly. “I’m tired of being judged by your family. I deserve better. I want out.”
Matt clenched his fists. “Everything my family said about you was true.”
Jessica sneered. “And you’re a mama’s boy, always running to her! It’s pathetic.”
My phone buzzed. I quickly called the lawyer, praying Jessica was wrong.
“Please tell me she’s lying,” I whispered to the lawyer.
The lawyer chuckled. “Hattie, your father didn’t leave her the house. This was a test to reveal her true colors.”
I started laughing through my tears. Jessica’s face fell as I explained. “Dad didn’t leave you the house. It was a fake will—a test. And you failed.”
Matt turned to Jessica. “Grandpa was right about you.”
Jessica panicked. “Matt, I didn’t mean it! I was upset. You know I love you!”
But Matt shook his head. “You wanted a divorce? You’ve got one.”
Jessica stormed off, her heels sinking into the grass. As she left, I felt a sense of peace. Dad’s wisdom had saved us.
Matt and I gathered up the scattered belongings. Sometimes, the real inheritance isn’t a house, but the lessons of who truly belongs in your life. Dad would have been proud.
