Page 124 of January

“Let’s call her.”

“Mom?”

“Yes. Let’s meet with her,” Jolie said.

“Why?”

“To tell her about all this; not the savings account, but that she won’t be able to take advantage of me anymore. That the money isn’t in my hands, and neither are the homes. Let’s tell her together that she’s not getting anything and that she needs to get her life together herself. I’ll be right there with you. I’ll be firm, Ky.”

“Are you sure? That’s a lot. She’s angry right now, Jolie. She’s trying to find an attorney.”

“I know. I can handle it. It’s about time, anyway,” Jolie replied.

“Okay. If you’re sure.”

Jolie reached for her own phone and quickly pressed the screen, putting it to her ear.

“Mom?” She paused. “Can you meet Ky and me?”

Kyle hadn’t been prepared for her to call their motherright away, but she’d go with this if it meant they’d finally be able to tackle their mother together.

“Yes, we want to talk to you.” Jolie paused again, rolling her eyes at Kyle in exasperation. “No, you don’t need to bring a lawyer. Mom, we’re your kids. Will you just meet us?”

“Where?” Kyle whispered.

Jolie looked around and said, “There’s a diner. I’ll text you the info, okay? Meet us there in a half hour.”

Kyle saw the diner Jolie was referring to. A minute later, Jolie hung up and sent their mother the address.

“Why here?”

“Because it’ll be a public place; less likely for her to make a scene. And it’s not in the Quarter or the Square or anywhere you’re likely to go again. If this goes sideways, I don’t want you to have a bad memory of Jackson Square because of our mother.”

Kyle smiled at her younger sister before she canceled their shared-ride car and they walked toward the diner, where they were sat in a booth. Minutes later, they both had a cup of coffee in their hands, but neither of them had taken a drink yet. It was more to have something to do with their hands than because they needed the coffee. They also weren’t talking while they waited on their mother. At first, Jolie had wanted to come up with a game plan, but they’d both decided it might be best to just go with it, let Kyle take the lead, and try to make this as quick as possible.

“I didn’t know you were here,” their mother said once she arrived at their booth.

“I flew in yesterday,” Jolie said. “Sit.” She motioned to the other side of the booth, which they’d left empty for their mother.

“I assume I’m here so we can avoid the messy lawyer stuff?”

“Yes,” Jolie replied.

“Great. When can I expect–”

“Never,” Jolie interrupted.

Kyle turned her head toward her sister.

“Sorry?” their mother said in disbelief.

“Mom, Grandma left Kyle and me this money. It’s not yours.”

“I came here because I thought we could be civil and get this done,” their mother said.

“And we are. It’ll be done today,” Jolie replied. “You won’t be able to get anything from me anymore because I don’t have anything. I transferred everything Grandma left me to Kyle, and Kyle isn’t giving you any of it.”

“You gave Kyle all of the money?! What about the houses?”