Chapter 3 - The Change of Address
The police arrived twenty minutes later.
I hadn’t called them because anyone was being arrested.
I called because the movers needed to leave and my family refused to clear the driveway.
Two officers spoke with me first through the front door.
I showed my identification.
My deed.
The security footage.
Then I stepped onto the porch.
Mother looked shocked.
Apparently she had expected me to hide inside all morning.
Instead, I locked the door behind me and stood beneath my own porch light.
“This is ridiculous.”
She said.
“I agree.”
I replied.
One officer asked who owned the property.
“I do.”
I said.
Mother immediately interrupted.
“She’s being technical.”
The officer looked at her.
“Ownership is usually technical.”
Chloe stared at the ground.
Brianna rolled her eyes.
Madison looked like she wanted to disappear.
Mother held up her clipboard.
“We have mail coming here.”
The officer frowned.
“That doesn’t make you the homeowner.”
“It establishes residence.”
Daniel had warned me they might say that.
I pulled out my phone.
“No one has permission to reside here.”
Mother’s jaw tightened.
I asked the question again.
“What did you file?”
She refused to answer.
Then Madison made the mistake of whispering.
“Mom.”
Mother snapped toward her.
“Not now.”
That was enough.
“Madison.”
I said.
“What did she file?”
Madison’s eyes filled with panic.
“I don’t know everything.”
“Tell me what you do know.”
Mother stepped toward her.
“Stop talking.”
The officer moved between them.
“Ma’am, let her speak.”
Madison swallowed.
“Mom took us to the post office.”
“When?”
“Thursday.”
My stomach dropped.
“She had all of us submit address changes.”
“To my address?”
Madison nodded.
Chloe folded her arms.
“We’re not criminals, Audrey.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“You’re acting like it.”
“You changed your permanent mailing addresses to a house where you do not live.”
Brianna gave a humorless laugh.
“Because we were going to live here.”
“Without asking me.”
“Mom asked.”
I turned toward my mother.
“When?”
She said nothing.
“When did you ask me?”
Her eyes hardened.
“I shouldn’t have to beg my own daughter for a bedroom.”
“You weren’t asking for one bedroom.”
I pointed at the trucks.
“You brought an entire household.”
The moving company finally departed after Mother provided the storage-unit address I had texted them.
She hated that.
Every mile those trucks drove away from my house felt like a small piece of my life returning.
But the relief lasted less than an hour.
When I went back inside, my mailbox notification appeared.
USPS INFORMED DELIVERY.
I opened it.
There were nine pieces of incoming mail.
Only two were mine.
One was addressed to Brianna.
Two to Chloe.
One to Madison.
And three to my mother.
The final envelope made my stomach twist.
It came from a home-insurance company.
Recipient:
EVELYN CARTER.
My mother.
May you like
Insured property:
My address.
