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.

When we ended the call, I felt something I hadn’t felt about him in a long time: cautious hope.

PART 17

In February, a small misunderstanding threatened to undo some of that progress.

Lucas told me during a visit that his parents were planning to move to a smaller house, and that it was “because Grandma wants us out.”

I didn’t contradict him angrily.

I asked what he had heard.

“Dad says we spend too much on the big house.

Mom says you’re charging more rent.”