Rachel barely spoke as she read.
When she finished, she leaned back.
“You purchased all of this furniture?”
“Yes.”
“And your sister acknowledges having it?”
I showed her the photo.
Rachel stared at it.
Then looked at me.
“You have a strong case.”
For the first time since dinner, I smiled.
“Send her a letter.”
Rachel did.
The letter arrived Thursday morning.
At 9:17, Mia called.
“What did you do?”
Her voice was different.
The arrogance was gone.
“I hired a lawyer.”
“You got a lawyer involved over furniture?”
“You took property you didn’t own and refused to return it.”
I heard Karen shouting in the background.
“Tell him he’s destroying this family!”
Mia lowered her voice.
“The letter says forty-eight hours.”
“Then return everything.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You read the letter.”
She hung up.
That evening, Dad called.
This time, he wasn’t angry.
He sounded frightened.
