My son sent me a message: “Mom, I know you just bought us the house, but Sarah’s dad says you can’t come to Thanksgiving.” I stared at the screen, thought about the $350,000 I had spent to give him a home, and typed one word back: “Okay.” That night, I stopped being everybody’s wallet and started being the woman who was about to take everything back—starting with the house they thought was already theirs.

I’d paid for Danny’s wedding four years ago. $28,000 for a party that Sarah’s parents couldn’t pay for but insisted had to be fancy. I’d paid for their trip to Hawaii afterward. Gave him $12,000 when he said his car broke down and he needed help. That was two years ago. He never paid me back. Covered $6,000 in bills when he said they were having a hard month. Bought $10,000 worth of furniture when they moved into their apartment because Sarah wanted everything brand new. Nothing used or from my attic.

And now Richard, a man I’d met exactly twice, didn’t want me at dinner in the house I’d just bought for his daughter.

“Excuse me, dear. Are you okay? You look upset.”

An old woman stood next to me. Her cart was full of food for a big meal. Pictures of her family were on her phone cover.

“I’m fine,” I said.

My voice sounded funny, like it belonged to someone else.

“Just remembered something I need to do.”

I looked at my phone again. The little line blinked in the empty box, waiting for me to be smart enough to know what to say.

Instead, I just typed one word.

“Okay.”

Sent it.