Of course they had.
I lifted one of the garbage bags slightly.
“Yeah,” I said. “I can see that.”
Richard stepped forward, not aggressively, just enough to take up space.
“We needed to make some adjustments while you were gone.”
Adjustments.
That word carried a lot of weight in this house.
I looked past them into the living room. The furniture had been rearranged. New throw pillows. A framed photo I didn’t recognize.
None of it was mine.
“Where’s Chloe?” I said.
Evelyn finally smiled.
“Oh, she’s here upstairs resting.”
Resting.
That told me enough.
“And Vance?” I asked.
“Moved in.”
My duffel still sat on the porch behind me like it hadn’t gotten the message.
“And my room?” I asked.
Evelyn tilted her head like she was explaining something obvious.
“Well, honey, Chloe needed the master suite.”
Of course she did.
“She’s been under a lot of stress,” Evelyn continued. “You know how sensitive she is.”
