Chris Harvey never expected to wake up in a hospital bed at 87 years old, but after a sudden heart episode, that’s exactly where he found himself. Lying there, feeling weak, he picked up his phone and called his daughter, Angelina, hoping for some comfort.
“Dad, don’t worry. I’m going to work something out. But I can’t visit you at all because I don’t have any more PTO at work,” Angelina told him, her voice filled with regret.
Chris sighed. He understood. People had responsibilities. Still, he felt a pang of loneliness. “Ok, darling. I think the doctors are just worried about my health at my age, and they’ll tell me more soon enough,” he murmured, gripping the phone.
Angelina bit her lip, thinking. “Dad, I’ll send Peter to check on you and make sure everything at home is in order. He’ll be there soon.”
Chris smiled. “That would be wonderful. Tell him I can’t wait to see him.”
What Chris didn’t know was that Peter and his wife, Hannah, had their own plans.
Angelina wasted no time calling her son. “Peter, you need to go to Austin and check on your grandfather. He’s all alone.”
Peter hesitated. “I don’t know if I can, Mom.”
“Peter, you have to. Who knows how long he’s going to live after this, especially if his heart is failing? He always said you’d inherit his house one day. Maybe you should see what repairs it might need so he can live comfortably for however long he has left. And it’s a great time to bond with him too.”
There was silence on the other end. Then Peter answered, his tone odd. “Alright. I’ll go. Hannah will come with me. I can probably ask for time off work.”
“Thank you, son. I trust you to help your grandfather as best as you can. I love you.”
“Love you too, Mom. Bye.”
Angelina hung up, relieved. But she had no idea what was truly going through her son’s mind.
Days later, the doctors discharged Chris with a list of medications and strict instructions to take it easy. But something nagged at him. Angelina hadn’t called yesterday, and he didn’t have Peter’s number. Still, he hoped his grandson would be waiting at home.
When the cab dropped him off, Chris’s eyes widened in shock. His furniture was scattered across the front lawn. His front door, which he was sure had been shut when he left, was slightly open.
He stepped inside and gasped. The house was empty.
Everything was gone. His paintings, his military memorabilia, his kitchen table, even his credenza. The only things left were plastic sheets covering parts of the walls, as if someone had been painting.
“Hello?” Chris called out, his voice echoing in the hollow space.
Footsteps approached from the hallway. “Grandpa?” Peter appeared, looking surprised.
Chris let out a breath of relief. “Peter! Thank God! I thought someone had broken in. What’s happening here?”
Peter scratched the back of his head. “Oh, well… no one broke in.”
“Then what is going on?”
Peter hesitated. “We wanted to surprise you.”
“We?”
“Yeah, Hannah and me. She’s here,” Peter said, calling his wife. “Honey!”
“What?” Hannah stepped into the room and froze when she saw Chris. “Oh. Mr. Harvey. Hello there.”
“Hello, dear! It’s been a while since the wedding.” Chris kissed her cheek. “So, tell me, what’s going on with my house?”
Peter and Hannah exchanged a quick glance before Peter spoke. “We wanted to remodel it before you came back. The place needed some work, so we thought this would cheer you up. But you got discharged sooner than we expected.”
Chris’s face lit up. “That’s so thoughtful! I hope you’re not spending too much money, though.”
“Oh no,” Hannah said quickly. “We know a guy.”
“Good, good. And my things? Where are they?”
“Uh… in storage,” Peter answered hesitantly. “Except for a few things we wanted to replace for you. The ones outside are for the garbage. We had to clear space for the remodel.”
Chris beamed. “You two are amazing! Thank you! Now, I need to pick up my prescriptions, but I’ll be back soon.”
“Sure!” Peter and Hannah chorused, laughing nervously.
Chris frowned at their awkwardness but dismissed it. He walked to the pharmacy, but when he returned, he heard voices from Angelina’s old bedroom.
“What are we going to do, you idiot?” Hannah hissed.
“Hannah, calm down. It’s fine. It just messes with our plans a bit,” Peter muttered.
“A bit? You told me he was dying! That this was going to be our house! You think I’d spend my money fixing someone else’s home when we still rent?”
Chris’s heart clenched as he listened, covering his mouth to stay silent.
“Hannah, it’s fine. The house will be mine eventually, and he has plenty of money. Think of it as an investment.”
“NO! We are not spending another dime! Tomorrow, we’re getting on a plane and going home! This was a waste of time!”
Chris had heard enough. He quietly stepped back, then walked through the front door, loudly closing it to announce his return.
That night, as they ate spaghetti on the floor, Chris finally spoke. “Peter, I’ve been thinking. I want to move into a nursing home permanently. I don’t want another emergency while I’m alone here. I think you two should have the house.”
Peter and Hannah’s faces lit up. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious.”
“Thank you, Grandpa! This is an honor!” Peter grinned, and Hannah practically bounced in excitement.
For weeks, they continued remodeling, thinking the house was theirs. Chris played along, but in reality, he had other plans.
When the house was finished, he suggested a housewarming party. Everyone gathered to celebrate. And then Chris stood up, raising his glass.
“A toast to my grandson and his lovely wife! Thank you for fixing up my house… because I’m going to enjoy it for the rest of my life.”
The room went silent. Peter and Hannah froze.
Chris smirked. “Did you know they came here believing I was dying? They took my things, spent money on the house, all thinking it was theirs. Well, it’s not. In fact, I’ve already rewritten my will. When I pass, this house goes to charity.”
Gasps filled the room. Hannah looked like she might explode. Chris turned to the guests and shouted, “EVERYONE GET OUT OF MY HOUSE BEFORE I CALL THE POLICE!”
The party ended in chaos. The next day, Chris told Angelina everything. She was devastated but knew her father had made his decision.
“Are you comfortable severing your relationship with Peter just like that?” she asked.
Chris sighed. “Honey, he severed it the moment he decided to steal from me.”
Chris lived another 11 years, and when he passed, his house was sold, with the proceeds donated to charity.
Lesson learned: Never assume you’re entitled to someone else’s property. And sometimes, cutting off family is necessary for peace.
