The story was true, but it was a one-time occurrence. It happened only once, on a day when my back was hurting badly and I took a painkiller that made me drowsy.
Price presented my financial records. A neat ledger book where every dollar invested in my son’s house was recorded. Blake tried to challenge these records, calling them one-sided and biased, but Judge Hammond was clearly impressed by their thoroughness.
«Mr. Hall Sr.,» she asked, «have you always kept such detailed records of your expenses?»
«Yes, Your Honor,» I replied. «I was an accountant for 42 years. It’s a professional habit.»
She nodded as if noting something for herself. The hearing lasted nearly four hours. By the end, I felt squeezed like a lemon. The judge announced a recess to consider her decision.
«I’m giving myself an hour to think,» she said. «Everyone please remain in the courthouse.»
Price, Emmett, and I settled in the hallway, while Parker and Odelia went to the opposite end, avoiding any contact. «What do you think our chances are?» I asked Price.
«Hard to say,» he shrugged. «Your financial records made an impression, that’s for sure, and Emmett’s testimony was convincing, but without a written agreement, it all depends on who the judge believes more.»
The hour dragged on endlessly. I watched Parker from a distance. He looked tense, constantly checking his phone, nervously talking to Odelia and Blake.
Finally, we were invited back into the courtroom. Judge Hammond looked determined. «Having considered all the evidence presented and heard the testimony of the parties, I am ready to render my decision,» she began. «This is a difficult case, as are most family disputes.»
«On the one hand, we have no written agreement on joint ownership. On the other hand, there is compelling evidence of Mr. Hall Sr.’s significant financial contribution to the purchase of the property.» She paused, shifting her gaze from me to Parker. «In cases like this, the court is guided by the principle of fairness, and here I see a clear injustice to the plaintiff.»
«The man invested most of his savings in his son’s house, hoping to enjoy a secure retirement surrounded by his family. Instead, they are trying to evict him and send him to a nursing home so they can use his living space for a gym.»
Odelia bowed her head low. Parker sat up straight, but I could see his knuckles turn white as he gripped the edge of the table.
«The court rules that the plaintiff, Cedric Hall, is entitled to a share of the disputed property commensurate with his financial contribution, namely 45% of the market value of the house at the time of the hearing. The defendants, Parker and Odelia Hall, have the choice of either paying the plaintiff $285,000 within 60 days or putting the property up for sale and dividing the proceeds in the specified proportion.»
Silence hung in the courtroom. I couldn’t believe my ears. We had won, even more than we had hoped for.
«In addition,» the judge continued, «the defendants are required to pay the plaintiff’s legal costs in full. The hearing is adjourned.»
She banged her gavel, and the courtroom came to life. Price shook my hand, and Emmett patted me on the shoulder. I looked at Parker, his face pale, and at Odelia, who was crying silently, her face hidden in her hands.
«What now?» I asked Price as we left the courtroom.
«Now we wait for their decision: whether they will pay or sell the house,» he replied. «But given their reaction, I doubt they have nearly $300,000.»
I nodded. Building inspector and logistics coordinator are good professions, but not ones that provide instant access to such sums.
As we left the courthouse, Blake caught up with us. «Mr. Hall,» he said to me, «my clients would like to discuss the possibility of an installment plan.»
Price shook his head. «The court’s decision was clear: 60 days, no installment plans.»
«But it’s their house,» Blake looked genuinely emotional for the first time. «Do you really want to throw your family out on the street?»
«I just wanted justice,» I replied. «And the court provided it.»
That same evening, Bridget called me. She was crying. «Grandpa, what’s going on? Mom and Dad came back from court, and Dad was yelling that you took our house away from us. Is that true?»
«No, sweetheart,» I sighed, feeling my heartbreak at her tears. «I didn’t take the house. I just demanded my share of it. The court ruled that I have a right to it.»
«But Dad says we’ll have to sell it now. Where will we go?»
«Bridget, listen.» I tried to speak calmly, even though inside I was boiling with anger at Parker for using his own daughter as a weapon. «The money I’ll get from the sale belonged to me in the first place. I’m not taking your house away, but your parents didn’t want to let me live in the house I helped buy.»
«I don’t understand,» she sobbed. «Why can’t adults just get along?»
«Sometimes they can’t.» I closed my eyes, feeling powerless in the face of her grief. «But I promise I’ll always be there for you, no matter what happens. I have my own apartment now, and there’s a room for you in it. You can come anytime.»
«Dad won’t let me,» she whispered. «He said you’re not part of the family anymore.»
Those words hit me harder than I expected. Not part of the family, after everything I’ve done for them.
«Your dad is very upset right now,» I said, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. «Give him time to cool down. In the meantime, you know where I live, right? You can come by after school if you want.»
«I’ll come,» she promised. «Just don’t tell Mom and Dad.»
A week after the trial, Parker put the house up for sale. The news quickly spread throughout their neighborhood. Neighbors, many of whom knew me, began asking questions. Parker and Odalia tried to keep quiet, but rumors spread quickly.
One of Parker’s colleagues found out about the lawsuit, and soon everyone in his office was talking about how he was trying to evict his elderly father for the sake of a gym. His son’s reputation, which had always been impeccable, began to suffer.
Odalia faced a similar problem at work. Her boss, an older woman, openly expressed her disapproval of how they had treated me. «You’d think that marrying a caring boy like Parker would teach you to respect your elders,» she said to Odalia in front of her colleagues.
The story reached me through mutual acquaintances. The house was sold for $610,000, a little less than Parker had hoped, but the Lexington real estate market was not doing well. My share was $274,500; another $10,500 covered legal costs.
Parker and Odalia bought a smaller house in a less prestigious neighborhood. Bridget had to change schools, which was a heavy blow for her. She left her friends and familiar surroundings. Another reason to resent the grandpa who ruined everything.
But to my surprise, it was Bridget who was the first to find the strength to overcome her resentment. A month after they moved, she showed up at the door of my new apartment unannounced with a backpack on her shoulders.
«Bridget!» I was so happy to see her that I almost cried. «How did you find me?»
«Emmett told me,» she smiled sheepishly. «I called his office and said I wanted to see you. He gave me the address and said you’d be happy to see me.»
«He’s right,» I hugged her. «I’m very happy. Do your parents know you’re here?»
She shook her head. «I told them I was going to the library to study for an exam. They’re still, well, you know.»
I nodded. Of course they were still angry. That was to be expected. «Come in,» I let her into the apartment. «Would you like to see your room?»
Her eyes widened. «I really have a room?»
«Of course,» I smiled. «I promised.»
I showed her the small but cozy room I had set up especially for her. With a desk, bookshelves, and a comfortable bed. «Is this all for me?» She looked around the room, clearly touched.
«It’s all for you, sweetheart. You can come whenever you want. Stay for the weekend, for the holidays. This is your home too.»
She hugged me tightly, burying her face in my shoulder. «I missed you, Grandpa. Home is so tense. Dad is constantly nervous. Mom cries at night. They think I can’t hear them. But the walls in the new house are thin.»
«I’m sorry it turned out this way,» I said sincerely. «I never wanted to hurt you or your parents.»
«I know.» She pulled away and looked me in the eyes. «I understand that. And I want you to know that no matter what Dad and Mom say, I will always love you. You will always be my family.»
I felt tears welling up in my eyes. At that moment, despite all the losses and pain of the past few months, I felt that it had not been in vain. My granddaughter stood before me, looking at me with a love and understanding that I had not seen in my son’s eyes for many years.
«You can come here anytime,» I repeated, squeezing her hand tightly, «even if your parents are against it. This door will always be open to you.»
She nodded, smiling through her tears. And I realized that whatever the cost of my fight for justice, it was worth it. For this moment, for this connection, for the opportunity to remain a grandfather to Bridget, despite all the disagreements with her parents.
The winter in Lexington was surprisingly mild. The window of my new apartment overlooked a park where, even in December, patches of green grass remained among the patches of snow. In the mornings, I watched elderly couples walking their dogs, young mothers pushing strollers, children playing in the playground.
Life went on as usual. And now, for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was part of it, not an outside observer.
My apartment became a real home. One bedroom for me, the second for Bridget, a cozy living room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a compact kitchen where I experimented with new recipes. On the balcony, I set up a mini garden, containers with greenery that was pleasing to the eye, even in winter. It was my space, my fortress, where no one could tell me I was a burden or that I had forgotten to turn off the stove.
Bridget came every Friday after school and stayed for the weekend. At first, Parker and Odelia were against it, but then they apparently decided that it gave them a chance to relax a little. Besides, Bridget was stubborn. She took after me in that respect, as Miriam used to say.
Once, when Parker forbade her to come to my place, she simply didn’t come home from school and came straight to me, and we had to call her parents so they wouldn’t worry. After that incident, they tacitly accepted our meetings.
«Grandpa, can I invite Ellie over on Saturday?» Bridget asked one Friday evening, as we were making dinner. «We could do math together. She’s having trouble with algebra.»
«Of course, sweetheart,» I smiled, cutting vegetables for the salad. «Your friends are always welcome here.»
She beamed, then added hesitantly, «Only, Ellie lives near our old house. Maybe you could pick us up? Dad won’t let me take the car, and the bus takes too long.»
I froze, the knife suspended over the tomato. The old house. The neighborhood where strangers now lived. The neighborhood where I might run into Parker or Odelia.
«Of course,» I said, trying to hide my excitement. «Write down Ellie’s address, and I’ll come pick you up.»
On Saturday afternoon, I parked near the house that Bridget had indicated in her message. It was a large two-story mansion, very similar to the one where my family used to live. The girls were already waiting on the porch. Bridget and her friend, a petite brunette with lively eyes.
They climbed into the back seat, chatting animatedly. I turned onto the main road, trying not to look at the old house, but I couldn’t help myself and glanced briefly as we drove past. The new owners had already changed the color of the front door, from blue to red, and installed a swing set in the front yard. It was strange to see the place I had invested so much hope in, so quickly become someone else’s home.
«Grandpa, are you okay?» Bridget’s voice brought me back to reality.
«Yes, sweetie, just thinking.» I smiled at her in the rearview mirror.
The evening with the girls was fun. I helped them with their algebra. Then we made pizza and watched a comedy. When Ellie left, her father picked her up. Bridget suddenly became serious.
«Grandpa, I wanted to tell you something.» She sat down next to me on the sofa. «Mom and Dad, they fight all the time.»
I sighed, expecting something like this. Three months had passed since the trial and the move, but the wounds inflicted by this conflict had hardly had time to heal.
«What are they arguing about?» I asked cautiously.
«Everything,» she shrugged. «Money, the new house. Who’s to blame? Dad says that if Mom hadn’t insisted on the gym, none of this would have happened. Mom says that if he earned more, we could pay you your share and keep the house.»
I closed my eyes for a moment. Just like when I was a child, when my parents were divorcing, each blamed the other and neither wanted to admit their responsibility.
«I’m sorry you have to listen to this,» I said, hugging my granddaughter around the shoulders.
«I think they might get divorced,» she whispered. And I heard the fear in her voice.
«Bridget, listen.» I turned her to face me. «Whatever happens between your parents, they both love you more than anything in the world. And so do I. You will always be surrounded by love, even if things change.»
She nodded, but I could see that my words didn’t comfort her much. At 16, it’s hard to accept that the world can fall apart and be rebuilt.
The following week, Emmett called me. «Cedric, I have news.» His voice sounded unusually serious. «I just heard from John Peterson. Remember him? He works for the same company as your son.»
«What happened?» I tensed up.
«Parker has handed in his resignation. John says he found a job in Cincinnati, Ohio. They’re moving.»
I sank into my chair, feeling my heart skip a beat. Cincinnati? That’s in another state, three hours away from Lexington. They’re taking Bridget, taking her away from me.
«Are you sure?» I asked, even though I already knew the answer.
«Yes, John overheard Parker discussing it with his boss. The salary is higher. The cost of living is lower. And as Parker said, ‘away from toxic relationships.'»
I thanked Emmett for the information and hung up. Of course, I understood my son’s decision. Lexington had become a city of defeat and humiliation for him. Colleagues and neighbors knew about our story, and some openly condemned him. A new job, a new city, a chance to start with a clean slate.
