At my son’s wedding in Seattle, the bride looked me dead in the eyes and said, “Starting tomorrow, you’re no longer part of this family. I’m the boss now—not you.” I smiled, walked away like it didn’t hurt, and canceled the $80,000 I’d promised for their first home—right there at the reception, while the music was still playing.

And when he asked her why she did it, she said she was just trying to help him deal with his difficult mother.

That word—deal with—really bothered him.

By the end of the week, Amanda stopped calling and texting.

The sudden silence was actually more frightening than all the harassment.

Ruth told me to leave town for a few days. So I went to her beach house on the coast for four days.

I needed space.

I needed to think clearly and get ready for whatever was coming next, because something was definitely coming.

I got back from the beach on Thursday afternoon, calmer. The ocean always helps me think better. Ruth stayed with me the whole time. We spent hours walking on the beach and making plans.

More importantly, I got a phone call from Daniel.

Not from Amanda. From Daniel himself.

“Mom, can we meet? Just you and me,” he said.