Three Days To Sell It All

My mother called me with a single sentence.

"Keep an eye on Charlotte, honey. She’s the kind of woman who builds her own house with bricks stolen from her family."

I hung up, and that very night, I listed my three properties in the Oakridge school district with my broker.

Three days. All sold, cash cleared.

At the family dinner, Charlotte sidled up to me, swirling her glass of wine.

"So, I heard you have three townhouses in Oakridge? My little boy starts school next year, and I was thinking..."

I blew gently on my tea, my eyes lifting to meet hers.

"Oh, I sold them. Three days ago."