After 10 years spent far away from me, and I went home without telling anyone. I was expecting to find my mother happy to see me again. But I discovered it only in the kitchen, eating cold beans, canned, while my brother was serving lobster to the whole family of his wife.
“Mom prefers to eat here,” to me, he said.
I have not discussed. I pulled out my phone and called my lawyer. But, looking at the documents of the house, we discovered something much more serious than this humiliation.
PART 1
“Mom, you should probably eat in the kitchen this evening. The large table is reserved for the family of Janelle. ”
What were the first words I heard after ten years of working hundreds of miles from home.
During all the way from Denver, I had imagined my return. I dreamed to enter discreetly, put my suitcase and surprise my mother. Abigail would take me in his arms. It pleurerait can be. Me too.
But instead, I stood frozen in the entrance, one hand still on my suitcase.
Bursts of laughter came from the dining room.
The long oak table was staggering under the dishes : grilled steaks, lobster tails, expensive stuff, vegetables-refined and superb desserts.
Janelle, my sister-in-law, trinquait with his parents and his brothers and sisters.
Everyone seemed to be perfectly in its place.
Except for the woman for whom I had built this house.
The sound of dishes caught my attention toward the laundry room.
And there, I saw her.
My mother.
Abigail was sitting alone at a small plastic table, near the washing machine. She wore an old wool sweater and had before it a plate chipped containing canned beans, two biscuits stale and a glass of tap water.
For a few seconds, I was unable to speak.
Ten years earlier, I had left Red Creek to Denver with two suitcases and a promise.
I had promised my mother that one day she would no longer ever have to worry about money.
I had worked tirelessly, given up to the holiday, and spent many holidays alone in small apartments or airports.
Finally, I had earned enough money for him to build the house that I dreamed for her : big, bright rooms, a garden, a comfortable room on the ground floor and a dining room large enough for the whole family.
And yet, my mother ate cold beans next to a washing machine.
“Mom ? ”
She looked up. The spoon remained suspended in front of his mouth.
“Brandon ? ”
His face paled.
Then, instead of smiling, she pushed him away quickly his plate, as if she was ashamed to have been caught as well.
“My darling… When did you come ? ”
I dropped my suitcase.
“What are you doing here ? Why do you eat it alone ? ”
She tightened her sweater around her.
“I’m very well. Don’t make stories, if you please. ”
“Stories ? ”
I looked at his plate.
“Mom, why did you eat here ? ”
Heavy footsteps echoed in the stairway.
My little brother Lucas appeared.
Surprised to see me disappeared quickly from his face.
“Do not begin to create problems as soon as you come”, ” he shouted.
“Problems ? ”
“Mom doesn’t like the steak or seafood. She prefers the simple things. And she told us that she loved to be here, because it is more quiet. ”
I replied no.
I looked at my mother. His hands were tight on his knees, to the point that his knuckles had become white.
“It’s true, mom ? You have chosen to eat here ? ”
She lowered her eyes.
She did not answer.
And this silence I said more than any words.
And then the voices of Janelle went down the stairs.
“You’re gone for ten years, Brandon. ”
She stood in the top of the stairs, a glass of wine in hand.
“It is we who live here with her. It is we who will take care of the house all day. You can’t go back after you sent the money from another State and pretend to be the perfect son. ”
I felt something tighten in my chest.
“I built this house for my mother. ”
Janelle had a laughter cold.
“And if Lucas and I weren’t there, who would take care of it ? ”
I looked slowly to the dining room.
His family was always installed around the table, surrounded by fancy food.
And then I looked at my mother, alone in front of a plate chipped full of cold beans and biscuits stale.
For the past three years, I versais 1 800 dollars each month to Lucas for the expenses of my mother.
And this was not all. I sent regularly extra money for his medication, repairs, appliances, and invoices.
My phone seemed suddenly very heavy in my pocket.
I came out of.
Lucas frowned.
“What are you doing ? ”
I called Mason, an old friend became a lawyer specializing in real estate.
“Mason,” I said as soon as he answered and said, I need you to please check the title deed of the home of Red Creek. ”
Lucas changed immediately of expression.
I continued, without leaving my brother in the eyes :
“If the house is still completely in my name, I want to know how to put it up for sale. ”
And, for the first time since my arrival, Lucas found nothing to answer.
PART 2 
This afternoon, I opened my bank statements. By adding the transfer of the last three years, I discovered that I had sent more than $ 60,000 to my brother Lucas : food, bills, repairs, drugs and emergencies.
When I asked him for an explanation, he claimed that while he had served in the house. But the evidence told a different story. Our mother, Abigail, lived in miserable conditions, while Lucas and his wife, Janelle spent my money to maintain an image of richness.
And then Valerie, a childhood friend stayed close to my mother, given to me by medical documentation. Six months ago, mom had been hospitalized for malnutrition and hypertensive crisis. Lucas and I had been assured that she was well.
I also discovered a power of attorney signed by my mother while she was sick. Lucas had deceived to prepare documents that will allow him to claim the house.
Things have gotten worse when a lawyer revealed to me that Lucas had made false invoices, claiming to have invested $ 300,000 in the property. This was no longer just a family conflict : it was a fraud.
I finally understood that my absence had contributed to the problem. For ten years, I had sent the money, instead of being present. I thought that a big house could replace my presence with mom.
One day, I found it only in the rain, with a small bag of clothes. She thought she was having to leave so that his son constantly fighting. I held her tight in my arms and I promised that things would change.
We sold the big house and bought mom a small cozy house. She finally found peace.
Lucas had to fulfill his actions and repay the money embezzled. He found a decent job and began to rebuild her life. Janelle, she also understood that appearances had destroyed their family.
I stayed at Red Creek and created my own business. I found also Valerie, I finished by asking in marriage.
A few years later, we were all gathered around a single table in the garden mom. Not luxury, not faux-semblants : just chicken, biscuits and laughter.
On this day, I finally understood what my mother had always wanted.
She never wanted money or mansion.
She simply wanted a place at the table, surrounded by people she loved.
