Chapter 5: House Rules

"Then we'll both be comfortable," I said. "I'm sleeping in the master."

Carlton blinked.

"Jo, the divorce..."

"File whatever you like. My name is on the mortgage, my father's money is in the down payment, and tonight I'm taking a bath in my own tub."

I walked out of the kitchen before he could say anything else.

That evening Colleen's chore chart appeared on the refrigerator.

It was laminated, which meant she had planned it before I arrived.

The chart had four columns: Colleen, Carlton, Cody and Jo.

Colleen's column said "Meal planning, school forms, family calendar."

Carlton's said "Trash."

Cody's said "Own room."

Mine said "Basement bathroom, dishes, laundry (all), garage."

I read it twice while the coffee brewed.

Then I took a pen from the junk drawer, crossed out my column and wrote one line across the bottom of the chart.

"Landlord: rent is $1,800 a month, due on the first, per person over eighteen. Utilities extra."

I added a second line.

"Guests of the house may use the kitchen between 6 and 9 p.m."

When Colleen came down she read it standing at the refrigerator with her mug in both hands.

"You can't be serious," she said.

"You called me the landlord in front of the movers," I said. "I'm doing the job."

"That's a joke."

"So is the chart. Mine at least has a price on it."

She turned toward the stairs.

"Carlton!"

Carlton came down in socks.

He read the chart, he read my addition, and he made the face of a man trying to find the line he could safely argue with.

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