“Dennis’s daughter is coming tonight,” she said quietly. “He wants the house to look perfect.”
“Are you serious?” I turned, stunned. “He’s making you clean the house because of her?”
“Why are you… cleaning while injured?”
She didn’t say anything.
“Mom, what’s really going on?”
She sighed and finally sat down, cradling her leg gently on the ottoman. “Your stepfather said it was important. His daughter, Kylie, is very particular and demanding. He wants her to feel welcome.”
“Kylie? The grown woman with the Range Rover? The wealthy one who lives in that gated community?”
“Your stepfather said it was important.”
“He told me she’s obsessed with luxury and cleanliness. I am supposed to shovel the snow all the way to the garage, too. So Kylie could park comfortably when she arrives this evening because Dennis doesn’t want to be ’embarrassed.’”
I stared at her in disbelief. “With a broken leg?”
“He said it was just snow. That I could use the shovel to support myself.”
My hands were shaking now. “Where is he?”
“I am supposed to shovel the snow all the way to the garage, too.’”
She hesitated.
“Mom,” I said firmly. “Tell me the truth. I’ll find out, anyway.”
“He went ice fishing. With Greg and Neil. Said he’d be back before dinner. He told me to handle everything.”
That was it! I didn’t scream and destroy him, but I didn’t yell.
I knew a man like Dennis wouldn’t respond to noise. He’d respond to action and learn from consequences.
“Mom,” I said, taking her hand gently, “go and sit in my car. I parked down the street.”
That was it!
I helped her wrap up in her coat and grabbed a few blankets from the upstairs closet. It hurt to watch her struggle down the porch steps. I held her elbow the entire way.
She slid into the passenger seat, exhausted and trembling, and I turned the heater on full blast.
Then, I pulled out my phone and started making calls. First, I found a private snow removal service and told them I needed all the snow from the three surrounding streets moved within the hour onto our driveway and yard.
“Ma’am, that’s three blocks of work,” the guy said. “You sure?”
“I’m sure. Charge me what you need.”
I needed all the snow from the three surrounding streets.
Then I called the city. I told them about an unsafe property, about a woman with a broken leg being forced to shovel snow alone.
