Page 19 of After Midnight

I steeled myself for the inevitable argument. “Well, I had a visit with Mr. Langdon today and I think you can figure the rest out on your own.”

I tried to walk away. Really, I did. But when she started screaming about me spendinghermoney, I couldn’t take it any longer.

“That’s enough,” I said, fighting the urge not to snap at her. “Why don’t you let me get into the house, then you and I can have a heart-to-heart.” I wasn’t looking forward to it and I wondered if she even had a heart in the first place. But as Mr. Langdon advised, so long as the girls remained in Margarette’s legal custody, I needed to keep the peace.

The same stunned look that had crossed Margarette’s face this morning did so again at my offer of an olive branch. I left herstanding in the driveway and proceeded into the house, going to the kitchen to grab a soda from the refrigerator.

After taking a few beats to relax, I found Margarette sitting in the living room, staring into the empty fireplace. I went over and sat on the couch across from her. My stepmother’s unusual silence had me feeling uneasy.

“We both know the jig is up, Margarette. You no longer have authority over me or my money. Also, I know I own the cars, the house, and basically everything inside it. So, let’s not do any more of this screaming or threatening. Deal?”

She continued to stare at the fireplace, her face devoid of emotion. Seeing as I had built up a head of steam, I went on talking. “You do have something over my head, though, and that’s my sisters. No need pretending like that isn’t the case because I’m guessing even as we’re sitting here, you’re trying to figure out how to use them against me. There’s no use playing that card because I’ve already decided how we’re going to manage it. I’ll cover all the expenses for my sisters, and they will remain living here. In exchange, you will be allowed to stay in this house as well, although I’ll no longer tolerate you throwing your weight around like you have before. You will begin pulling your weight just like the rest of us.”

Of all the things I’d just laid out, that last comment proved the trigger. Margarette turned on me then, anger spewing from her. “You have no right to tell me what to do in my own home!”

“Fair enough,” I responded calmly, which wasn’t easy. “But inmyhome, I have the right to do as I choose.”

I knew the moment my words fully registered because she paled. Now that I had her full attention, and relishing finally having a say in what happened under this roof, I continued. “As I was saying, I won’t be waiting on you any longer. I’m not your servant. And before you go thinking Miss Rita will do yourbidding, think again. According to Mr. Langdon, you can no longer afford to pay her, so I will be taking on her employment.”

I took a long drink of soda, letting the weight of my ultimatum sink in for her. I had my stepmother painted into a corner, we both knew it, but I also wasn’t going to be a complete dick about it. That’d make me no better than her, after all. “You will still receive a stipend from the girls’ trust, and I won’t ask that you spend it on them. Frankly, I prefer knowing your selfishness won’t get in the way of their needs.”

She looked on the verge of saying something, but I needed to get it all out. Before she had a chance to shoot idle threats my way again, I held up my hand to silence her.

“You’ve documented you only need a hundred dollars a week for personal expenses, so that’s what I’ll continue providing for you while the girls remain under this roof and in your custody.”

“You can’t possibly think I can live on four hundred a month,” she screeched.

“No, I don’t. We both know you never did. Mr. Langdon was clear I have every right to take you to court and force you to document how you actually used the money from my trust for your own benefit, not mine. That includes all the so-called family vacations you’ve taken over the years. It’ll sure be interesting to learn who you took on those cruises because it sure as hell wasn’t your stepchildren. The paperwork shows you bought tickets for us, and I’m guessing they didn’t go unused.”

I let my words linger in the air. I was on an emotional roller coaster—both terrifying and exhilarating—and had no intention of slowing down now. Considering how ghostly white Margarette’s face had become, I knew I’d hit on a particularly interesting subject. Not that I cared if she took boyfriends or hookups on her trips, but I did when it literally came at the expense of me and my sisters.

“Let’s face it, you’ve thought all along I was an idiot you could push around and manipulate into believing I was a nobody. But the fact is, you made a huge mistake. You hired someone who loves me for real. When you told me I was just a worthless Black kid who would never amount to anything, you gave me a real-life role model to keep me sane and teach me my own self-worth. Despite your best efforts, I know my worth and my value, as a person and within this family, and it has nothing to do with money. Love taught me that.”

Margarette sat unmoving, an unreadable expression on her face. She didn’t fool me, though. I knew she could be dangerous when provoked and her silence scared me. But I wasn’t going to let her see that.

“This morning, I stood up to you about Alli, and the same goes for Olivia. The garbage you’re teaching her, including how she’s privileged because of her color, ends today. As long as I’m financially supporting you and the girls, they will be taught all people have value. They will also be taught to pull their own weight rather than expecting other people to clean up after them. That means regular chores, maintaining a respectful atmosphere, and no talking down from you or anyone else in this house. Your negative influence over them stops now.”

“Well,” Margarette began, her mouth curving into a Cheshire Cat-like smile meant to convey a charming personality. I didn’t buy the act for a second. “You know I’m only trying to be a good mother. I concede I’ve made mistakes, but it hasn’t been easy learning to be a single parent to three children.”

Oh, that got my back up. “Can it, Margarette. Your manipulative games won’t work on me any longer. You don’t give two hoots about the girls or me and never have. So, let’s get down to what you do care about. Money.”

I decided to put in my final offer, knowing I was being too lenient but also fully aware she wouldn’t like it. “Find anaffordable apartment, nothing ritzy, and I’ll foot the bill. I’ll also allow you to take the sports car. You can spend the girls’ monthly stipend on yourself, as you have been, and I’ll contribute the four hundred dollars a month you used to receive from my trust on top of it. If you stay away and don’t create trouble for me or the girls, I’ll double it with another four hundred. Basically, you’ll pay for your own groceries and entertainment, and I’ll cover the rest. I’ll even send you on an annual cruise, all expenses paid.”

“You know you can’t just raise those girls on your own,” Margarette sneered, still trying her damndest to sound superior.

“He won’t have to,” Miss Rita said, peering into the living room and startling Margarette.

“Rita, for heaven’s sake, have you been eavesdropping this whole time?”

I smiled. “I was counting on it,” I said and turned to Miss Rita and winked.

“Now, you can’t lie about what I just offered since we have a witness. Margarette, do you agree to my terms?”

“No, I don’t agree,” she huffed. “You can’t force me into any agreement and you can’t force me to leave this house, either.”

I stood up from the couch, not breaking eye contact with her. “You have until Monday to reconsider. After that, I’ll begin reassessing my assets, including selling this house and all the cars. Oh,” I said as I grabbed my soda and turned to leave the room, “I’ll also begin legal proceedings against you for fraudulent activity around my trust fund.”

Walking toward the hallway, I added loud enough for her to hear, “I’ll also be contacting the best family law attorney in town.”

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