At 70, I Retired and Went Home to Celebrate with My Family Only to Find Out They Kicked Me Out That Same Day – Story of the Day

“And you?” I asked, raising a brow.

She pulled out a wide straw sunhat with a bee-keeping net.

“Stealth queen.”

We crouched behind the hedges, both holding sweet tea like it was tactical gear. Gary was fixing the porch. But minutes later… he walked up, opened the door like he owned the place.

Delia opened the door wearing a crop top and leggings, hair perfectly done like she was about to film a Pilates tutorial. Bonnie nudged me.

Then Gary stepped inside. No words. Just smooth, practiced motion. The door closed.

“We need ears in there,” Bonnie said.

“Wait.”

I jogged back into the guest room and dug through my suitcase.

“Ben gave me this last spring for my birthday. Said it was ‘cool tech.’ I thought it was a mug.”

Bonnie unwrapped the box like it was Christmas morning.

“Oh, honey! It’s a mini pet camera. With live audio.”

“I never even opened it. Didn’t know what to do with it.”

“Well, now you do.”

We strapped it around Mr. Pickles’ neck, Bonnie’s grumpy, overweight tuxedo cat, and opened the side gate.

“Be subtle,” I whispered.

Bonnie rolled her eyes. “He’s a cat, Fern. He invented subtle.”

We carefully opened the window and let the cat slide in. From Bonnie’s laptop, we watched the feed: hallway… kitchen… voices. Delia’s voice.

“Oh, Gary… Tom’s still in Oregon. And I finally got rid of Nana. So glad we could meet more often now.”

Followed by giggles. Then moaning. Loud. Repetitive. Committed. Bonnie choked on her tea.

We saved the footage. Then, settled on a projector, a white sheet, and a strategically timed showtime.

Friday night. Thomas’s flight landed at 6:10. Delia was outside “watering” her fake hydrangeas. The kids were still at the chess club.

At 7:01 PM, Tom’s car pulled into the driveway. I met him at the edge of the lawn.

“Mom?” he said, surprised. “I thought…”

“I’ve got something to show you, son.”

He followed me to the backyard. Bonnie hit play. There she was. Delia, on a 100-inch screen, in my kitchen. Arms around Gary. Voice loud and breathy: