Then I handed Trent an envelope: a spreadsheet of everything I’d paid for over the years. “Buy me out or be out in 30 days,” I told him.Then came envelope number two: divorce papers.He moved out within a week.My mother moved in. A week later, Gloria suffered a mild stroke.
Despite everything, my mom had me make soup and write her a kind letter.Gloria cried when she read it. She apologized to me. She had nowhere to go—so, yes, I let her move back in.
On my terms.Trent eventually left for Arizona. His parting note admitted I was always stronger than he’d been—he just never noticed until I stopped protecting him.
Now, I share my home with two women: one who gave me life, and one who taught me patience. Together, we planted a pink rose bush where the For Sale sign had stood. And you know what? It blooms beautifully.