But the strangest part was what happened next.
After being turned away from my property, Lauren’s family had moved into Mom’s apartment.
Mom lived in a two-bedroom rental.
One person was listed on the lease.
Suddenly six people were living there.
Three adults.
Three children.
Boxes stacked against walls.
Mattresses on the floor.
Bicycles in the hallway.
Neighbors complained.
Management noticed.
Mom received a lease violation.
Lauren and Derek had to leave.
If they didn’t, Mom could lose her apartment too.
For the first time in thirteen years, my mother was experiencing what she had always expected from me.
A problem she could not solve by telling me to make room.
Lauren eventually found a rental farther away from the children’s school district.
It wasn’t ideal.
Derek hated the commute.
Lauren complained about the neighborhood.
But they found somewhere.
Just as I had said they would.
