My daughter-in-law laughed as she gave me a $2 scratch-off for my 73rd birthday. Ten months later, my own son shoved a senior living brochure in front of me and said, “We already picked your room.” They thought I was too old to fight back. They had no idea what I had been hiding.

Jessica’s next move was more serious than a text message.

A letter arrived from a lawyer I’d never met.

It alleged that I had exerted undue influence over the prior seller and suggested that a property transaction arranged without informing my family raised questions about my judgment.

Richard read it in my living room.

He made notes in the margin before setting it down.

“It’s a collection of insinuations,” he said.

“We have the contract, the appraisals, the seller’s independent counsel, and the closing records.