The Phoenix's Rebirth for Revenge novel · Chapter 25 of 32

Chapter 25: Gran's Word

Nobody helped her.

Nobody would have dared.

Gran climbed the eight brick steps of her own house one at a time, cane, foot, foot, while forty reporters held their breath.

My mother had gone very still at the top.

"Winifred," she said warmly, for the cameras. "You shouldn't be out of bed."

"I've been in bed for two weeks," said Gran. "It's overrated."

She reached the step I was standing on and put her free hand on my shoulder.

Her fingers were warm.

The microphones were bunched on a little stand at the top, a fistful of logos.

My mother was standing behind it.

Gran looked at her.

Then she lifted her cane and laid it flat against my mother's arm, gently.

My mother stepped aside.

I don't think she meant to.

Gran stood behind the microphones and took a moment to get her breath.

"My name is Winifred Haverhill," she said. "I'm eighty years old. I own this house, and forty percent of Haverhill Marine, and I'm not confused."

Somebody laughed and stopped.

"My son's wife stole from my company," Gran said. "When I caught her, she fed me poison."

She didn't raise her voice.

She didn't need to.

"As of this morning she's off every account, every committee and every guest list with my name on it," Gran said. "And off my front steps."

My mother's hand went to her pearls.

The street went so quiet I could hear a sparrow in the tree I'd been standing under.

A reporter in front shouted, "Mrs. Haverhill, are you accusing her of attempted murder?"

"I'm accusing her of being bad at it," said Gran.

My mother's lawyer leaned in and murmured something.

My mother didn't move.

"At seven o'clock this morning I sent the company's books to our auditors from my hospital bed," Gran went on. "They'll have their answer by Monday."

She turned her head.

"Quentin," she said. "They'll be calling you first."

Every camera swung to my father.

He was holding the iron railing with both hands.

He didn't look at the cameras, or at his wife, or at his mother.

He didn't look at anybody.

"Mrs. Haverhill," a reporter called. "Your daughter-in-law says you're being manipulated."

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