Chapter 3 - The FourteenthWhen I turned on my phone the next morning, thirty-seven unread messages from Priscilla filled the screen. Where is Desmond's clean school uniform. The dog had an accident because no one walked him. Roland can't find his navy dress shirt. I don't know how to turn on the coffee maker. Just come back home and we can pretend yesterday never happened.

Even Marisol, the housekeeper who came twice a week for the heavier chores, called that morning. "Eleanor, your daughter offered to pay me triple my normal rate to cook their meals, drive her son, do laundry, and walk the dog today," she laughed over the line. "I told her very clearly that I clean houses for a living, but I don't work as a slave for anyone."

I laughed out loud for the first time in years.

Then Delia glanced at the calendar on her wall. "Eleanor, today is the fourteenth of the month."

A chill ran down my spine. I suddenly remembered. On the fifteenth of every month, my account was automatically charged for the high-speed internet, electricity, and several streaming subscriptions Roland had asked me to set up in my name, because he was always too busy. For four years he'd promised to reimburse me. He almost never did.

I looked at my debit card on the table. If I did nothing, those payments would drain my small pension account again the next morning.

I stood and grabbed my coat. "Delia, grab your coat and put on your shoes."

"Where are we headed?"

I put the documents back into my red wallet. "Our very first stop is the bank."

At the local branch, I canceled every direct debit agreement linked to my account. Afterward, I visited the utility offices and formally canceled the internet and electricity contracts registered under my legal name. Any services they still wanted would have to be assumed and paid for by the actual homeowners.

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As we left the last office, Delia grinned. "Now those two are finally going to realize just how expensive it was to replace you."

My phone immediately began ringing inside my purse. Roland. I ignored it.