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.

At 8:27 the following morning, the doorbell rang.

Colin came downstairs in his bathrobe and accepted a manila envelope delivered by certified mail.

A minute later, he walked into the kitchen, tearing it open with his fingers.

“A&M Property Holdings…” he muttered.

He frowned as he began to read.

Then he went dead still.

“What on earth is this?”

Jessica appeared at the top of the stairs.

I kept sipping my coffee.

PART 2

Colin read the first page again, slower this time, as if the words might change if he gave them a second chance. The letter gave notice that his month-to-month lease would terminate in thirty days and that the house was being put up for sale.

Jessica snatched the document from his hands. “This can’t be legal,” she said. “The property only changed hands a few months ago.”

I set my teacup down on the saucer and watched them scramble for an explanation that didn’t involve me.