A Sheet Cake With His Name On It And A Banner Sagging Over The Fireplace Before I Even Took My Coat Off

They were already applauding when I came through the door. My brother had my father’s recliner, a beer in one hand and a folder on his knee, telling the room he had sold my little house for four hundred and ten thousand and that I ought to be relieved. My mother whispered that they were proud of how quietly he had handled everything. My father said homeownership is a lot and that Colby had stepped in before things got worse.

The signature on that power of attorney was lovely. Smoother than mine has ever been. He said I had signed it in my kitchen the day before I left, and I told him I had left from my office, and he blinked exactly once.

Then the buyers’ attorney called to ask why police were in his office.

THE STORY CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE… 👇👇👇


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Aria Lexicon is the pen name of the writer and editor behind The Daily Signal, a site for original short fiction about families, grudges, awkward neighbors and the small decisions that turn into big ones. Every story is invented; every character is made up. When She isn't writing, She's reading other people's stories and trying to figure out why the good ones work.

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