I always said that in old age, you have only two options: either you become a quiet, gentle grandmother who sits in a rocking chair, bakes pies, and hands out candy to her grandchildren, or you turn into a brilliant schemer who never lets her family relax for a second. Without a doubt, I belonged to the second group.<\/p>\n
I was 78, wore designer robes, drank fresh juice in the morning, snowboarded whenever I wanted, and knew that even at this age, life could be kept under control. The key was playing your cards right.<\/p>\n
But lately, my children had started acting as if I didn\u2019t exist. As for my grandchildren, they never brought them to me, fearing that my influence might change their attitude toward their parents.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile…<\/p>\n
I shuffled the cards, sitting in my living room, while my “girls” kept me entertained with their chatter, waiting to play bridge.<\/p>\n
Dolly was once again going on about how her mysterious admirer kept leaving her flowers without a note.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t take it anymore!\u201d she rolled her eyes and clutched her chest. \u201cThis is unbearable! The man is playing some strange game!\u201d<\/p>\n
Margo, who had no patience for nonsense, simply scoffed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same one as last time?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr maybe a different one! Maybe I\u2019m a magnet for love!\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned the cards over in my hands and looked at Margo.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou do realize she orders them for herself, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, absolutely,\u201d she replied, setting down her coffee.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery funny!\u201d Dolly gave me an offended look. \u201cBut, for the record, this isn\u2019t about me! Tell me, how are your kids?\u201d<\/p>\n
I shrugged. \u201cAlive and well. Theoretically. They remember me so rarely that I\u2019m no longer sure if they even recall what I look like.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Gregory?\u201d Margo raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, \u2018Mr. Grizzly\u2019 is in his usual form. Sits at home, grumbling about life\u2019s injustices.\u201d<\/p>\n
I placed my cards on the table.<\/p>\n
Margo chuckled, while Dolly tossed another sugar cube into her coffee. \u201cAnd Veronica, his wife?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Hashtag\u2019?\u201d I smirked. \u201cShe\u2019s so busy crafting the perfect life for social media that I\u2019m not even sure she remembers how to hold a real conversation. But she is the one keeping the family afloat with advertising contracts. A man in a robe while his wife is on stage. It\u2019s like some sort of upside-down world.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd your daughter, Belinda?\u201d<\/p>\n
I paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelinda\u2026 well, as always, she\u2019s working on making sure everyone\u2019s life around her fits her vision of perfect order. No family, no children, not even a hint of a relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margo set down her cards and looked at me closely.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd your grandchildren? Mia, Theo?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Hon\u2019 is probably somewhere barefoot in the mountains, explaining to the trees how to meditate properly. Instead of preparing for exams or at least going to parties, she\u2019s completely immersed in her meditations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had some theory that objects have memory, didn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, yes. And that they hear us when we yell at them. I once scolded the microwave\u2014it ignored me for the entire day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what about Scooter, your little detective?\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled. \u201cThe only man in my family who still has some common sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s still a spy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA spy. Conducting active investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what is he investigating?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last thing I saw, he was crawling under the couch with a magnifying glass. I don\u2019t know if he\u2019s gathering evidence or just trying to entertain me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love him!\u201d Dolly theatrically placed her hands over her heart. \u201cDoes he know you\u2019re his only ally?\u201d<\/p>\n
I sighed and shuffled the cards again. \u201cHe still thinks I\u2019m the prime suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Margo leaned in closer, narrowing her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cVivi, you\u2019re up to something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, more than you know,\u201d I laid out the cards before me. \u201cIf my children don\u2019t notice me while I\u2019m alive, then I\u2019ll have to make sure they can\u2019t ignore me.\u201d<\/p>\n
I raised my glass of grapefruit juice. The bitterness sent shivers down my spine.<\/p>\n
I opened my mouth to say something else, but suddenly, a sharp pain pierced my chest.<\/p>\n
My vision darkened, the room tilted, and Dolly let out a shrill scream:<\/p>\n
\u201cCall an ambulance! Now!\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
“Her condition is stable, but at her age, she needs to be very careful,” he said, flipping through some paperwork.<\/p>\n
Dolly stood beside me, clutching her hands together in an exaggerated display of distress, as if she were about to break the tragic news to the entire world.<\/p>\n
“She\u2019s so active, doctor!” she let out a dramatic sigh. “Will she\u2026 be able to live as she did before?”<\/p>\n
“She needs rest. No strain, minimal stress. And, of course, she should have her family around her.”<\/p>\n
I caught the glance Margo exchanged with Dolly.<\/p>\n
“We\u2019re staying with you for the weekend,” Dolly declared, meeting my gaze as if daring me to argue.<\/p>\n
“Just to make sure everything is truly under control,” Margo added.<\/p>\n
“We need to call your family. They should be here with you. Who knows how much time\u2026”<\/p>\n
“Dolly, don\u2019t overdo it,” I shot her a pointed look.<\/p>\n
Yet, something in her words made me pause. My condition did require attention. But not medical attention. Family attention. If it were up to them, they wouldn\u2019t have even asked if I was still breathing when I was taken to the hospital. But at that moment\u2026 Well, I could remind them of who I was.<\/p>\n
“You\u2019re right,” I murmured. “I do need them here.”<\/p>\n
Dolly clapped her hands together. “Oh, finally, you admit it!”<\/p>\n
Margo nodded with satisfaction.<\/p>\n
“Here\u2019s what we\u2019ll do. We\u2019ll message them ourselves. If you ask both children at once, they\u2019ll assume you\u2019re exaggerating. So we\u2019ll send separate messages to each of them.”<\/p>\n
Dolly raised a finger dramatically. “And we\u2019ll tell them to pack for a month! Just in case\u2026”<\/p>\n
I gave her a long, skeptical stare. “Dolly, you\u2019re enjoying this way more than you should.”<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m just a dramatic woman, what can I say?”<\/p>\n
Margo was already pulling out her phone and turned the screen toward me:<\/p>\n
“Belinda, I just got back from the hospital. My condition is very unstable. I don\u2019t want to worry you, but I\u2019m scared. Please come. I want you here”.<\/p>\n
I nodded in approval.<\/p>\n
“Now Gregory,” Dolly said, already typing.<\/p>\n
I glanced at the message she had composed. A small, satisfied smirk crept onto my lips.<\/p>\n
“Perfect.”<\/p>\n
My family was already on their way. And they had no idea what awaited them.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
I settled into my bed, carefully wrapped in a cashmere throw. The living room buzzed\u2014everyone had their roles to play. The door creaked open, and the first to step inside was Belinda.<\/p>\n
“Mom, how are you?”<\/p>\n
I let out a soft sigh. “As well as can be expected, dear\u2026”<\/p>\n
Gregory appeared in the doorway right after her. “Mom\u2026”<\/p>\n
“Oh, my boy,” I whispered.<\/p>\n
Behind them, my grandchildren burst in. Mia set down a small fabric pouch, pulled out a handful of incense sticks, and began placing them around the room.<\/p>\n
“This is to cleanse the space, Grandma. Hospitals carry heavy energy.”<\/p>\n
Gregory rolled his eyes, but Mia ignored him and lit one. Theo, meanwhile, dramatically flipped open his notebook, pen at the ready.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m going to figure out exactly what happened and how to fix your condition.”<\/p>\n
“Theo, stop making up stories,” Veronica muttered without looking up, already angling her phone for the best recording setup.<\/p>\n
“My heart has been acting up lately, children.” I paused, then added with my usual irony, “Of course, it could also be an allergic reaction to being ignored for months. Hard to say.”<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
“I can hire you a private nurse,” Veronica offered.<\/p>\n
Gregory was pacing back and forth, on the phone, no doubt looking for the “best cardiologist.” Belinda, ever the planner, was already thinking ten steps ahead.<\/p>\n
“Mom, I\u2019ll take care of your medical arrangements. We\u2019ll find the best specialists. I\u2019m even looking into the possibility of a heart transplant.”<\/p>\n
“I don\u2019t need a new heart or doctors,” I said, peering over the rim of the herbal tea that Mia had carefully poured from her thermos. “What I need is my family.”<\/p>\n
Belinda hesitated, then glanced at Gregory, as if seeking support.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019m just saying I want to spend time with you. Which is why you\u2019re all staying the night,” I announced, leaving no room for argument.<\/p>\n
Belinda immediately stiffened. “Mom, if you\u2019re fine, you have your friends with you. I have important meetings… I\u2019ll stop by tomorrow.”<\/p>\n
Gregory muttered something under his breath. I took a long, slow breath and then said,<\/p>\n
“If anyone wants to leave\u2014the door is open. But I don\u2019t know how much time I have left, and all I\u2019m asking for is just one night with my family.”<\/p>\n
Silence. Then Belinda exhaled and gave a small nod.<\/p>\n
“Of course, Mom.”<\/p>\n
Gregory rubbed the back of his neck. “Fine. Just tell me where I\u2019m sleeping.”<\/p>\n
“In your old room, of course.”<\/p>\n
“Oh, fantastic,” he groaned. “My 52 y\/o back will be thrilled about that wooden torture device you call a bed.”<\/p>\n
Veronica folded her arms. “Does the Wi-Fi at least work properly?”<\/p>\n
“Don\u2019t worry, dear. I made sure you wouldn\u2019t have to suffer the horrors of an offline existence.”<\/p>\n
After a brief dinner, everyone scattered to their rooms.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Later that night, I was on my way to say goodnight to my grandchildren when I stopped mid-step. Something moved in the hallway. At first, I thought it was my cat, Bugsy, but then I heard muffled voices.<\/p>\n
I moved closer, silent as a shadow. Gregory\u2019s door was slightly ajar.<\/p>\n
“We need to find out if she\u2019s already changed the documents,” Veronica whispered.<\/p>\n
“We can\u2019t just ask!” Gregory snapped. “If she hasn\u2019t rewritten the will yet, you know who everything is going to\u2026”<\/p>\n
I pursed my lips. Interesting. I crept further down the hall and caught Belinda\u2019s voice coming from her room.<\/p>\n
“No, I can\u2019t meet you right now. If Mom suspects anything, everything falls apart.”<\/p>\n
A chill ran down my spine. What exactly would fall apart, Belinda?<\/p>\n
Suddenly, a small shadow darted past me. Theo! He froze when he realized I had spotted him.<\/p>\n
“And what exactly are you doing, Scooter?”<\/p>\n
“Investigating.”<\/p>\n
I glanced down at his open notebook:<\/p>\n
1. Mom and Dad whisperin about Granny.<\/p>\n
2. Belinda canceled a secret meeting.<\/p>\n
3. Grandma Vivi playin cards.<\/p>\n
I smiled. I just wanted to bring my family together even for one evening\u2026 but at that moment, I wasn\u2019t even sure I really knew them. Their secrets sounded dangerous.<\/p>\n
“Go to bed, Scooter. I\u2019ll check in on you and Mia later.”<\/p>\n
I turned back towards my room. There was only one thing left to do.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
The following morning, everyone sat at the table, eating and exchanging small talk, pretending nothing had happened. But I knew. They were simply waiting to finish their coffee, make their excuses, and slip back into their carefully constructed lives.<\/p>\n
What they didn\u2019t know was that I had a very different plan for them. I folded my napkin and placed it on the table with careful precision.<\/p>\n
“I\u2019ve decided what to do next.”<\/p>\n
Belinda placed her fork down. “About what, Mom?”<\/p>\n
“About the will.”<\/p>\n
Gregory choked on his coffee. I lifted my gaze.<\/p>\n
“The people who will inherit my fortune will be the ones who choose to spend my final days with me.”<\/p>\n
Veronica tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Well, that\u2019s\u2026 interesting.”<\/p>\n
“So, anyone who wants to stay\u2014stay. But there are rules in this house. We eat breakfast and dinner together. We share updates. We spend time as a family.”<\/p>\n
A pause. Belinda nervously glanced at Gregory.<\/p>\n
“I think it\u2019s reasonable.”<\/p>\n
“Fine. I\u2019m in,” Gregory sighed. “Besides, the kids have been wanting to spend time here. And maybe Mia will finally study for her exams\u2026 and Theo… Well, he\u2019s got space to let his imagination run wild.”<\/p>\n
I turned to my grandchildren. “Are you two staying?”<\/p>\n
“Absolutely!” Theo grinned. “I have so many investigations to complete.”<\/p>\n
“Then it\u2019s settled,” I said.<\/p>\n
Across the table, my “girls” exchanged knowing glances. They knew.<\/p>\n
I had to be sure that my fortune wouldn\u2019t go to the wrong hands. Because my family had no idea that I was the biggest mystery to them all.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Later, Bugsy lounged in my lap, his plump body radiating warmth as I stroked his fur. The soft sound of shuffled cards filled the air, a rhythm I found comforting.<\/p>\n
Across from me, Dolly fanned out her cards with a dramatic flourish, while Margo sat poised, fingers lightly drumming against the table. Their curiosity pressed down on me.<\/p>\n
“So, you\u2019re just going to\u2026 watch them?” Margo finally broke the silence.<\/p>\n
I smirked, flipping a card between my fingers. “For now.”<\/p>\n
Dolly took a slow sip of her espresso.<\/p>\n
“And what exactly are you planning to learn?”<\/p>\n
I leaned back in my chair, letting the weight of their question settle.<\/p>\n
“Everything they\u2019re hiding.” I picked up my glass of pomegranate juice and took a deliberate sip, savoring the tartness. “They all have something to lose now. And they know it.”<\/p>\n
“Oh, Vivi, darling. You do realize this isn\u2019t just a family drama anymore? This is a full-fledged mystery.”<\/p>\n
Margo tilted her head, observing me carefully. “And you\u2019re sure you want to keep playing this game?”<\/p>\n
I traced the rim of my glass with my fingertip before setting it down.<\/p>\n
“Margo, dear, I am the game.”<\/p>\n
And then, I felt it. That prickle at the back of my neck. The unmistakable sensation of being watched.<\/p>\n
I reached up casually, as if to adjust my earring, tilting my head just enough to catch the smallest detail\u2014a hairline crack in the ceiling, barely noticeable, but just wide enough.<\/p>\n
A spy hole. My fingers paused against my earlobe. Someone was in the attic. Watching us.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t react. Didn\u2019t glance up. Instead, I let a slow, knowing smile stretch across my lips as I slid my next card onto the table. Let the game begin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I always said that in old age, you have only two options: either you become a quiet, gentle grandmother who sits in a rocking chair, bakes pies, and hands out candy to her grandchildren, or you turn into a brilliant schemer who never lets her family relax for a second. Without a doubt, I belonged […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":7634,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tales"],"yoast_head":"\n