I Noticed My Granddaughter’s Boyfriend Controlling Her Food At Easter Brunch. Then I Discovered He Stole Her Entire $32,000 Life Savings. Did I Go Too Far By Calling The Cops During His Last Power Trip?

A Shadow Over Easter Brunch

I was arranging the fresh tulips in the center of my dining table when I noticed my granddaughter Lily flinch at the sound of her phone buzzing. It was barely past nine in the morning on Easter Sunday, and I had been up since dawn preparing brunch for the family.

The ham was in the oven, the deviled eggs were chilling in the refrigerator, and everything was perfect. Everything was perfect except the look on Lily’s face when she glanced at that screen.

She was standing by the window in my kitchen, the morning light catching the edge of her profile. For just a moment, I saw something I hadn’t noticed in months: fear.

It was quick, almost imperceptible, but I had raised three daughters and helped raise five grandchildren. I knew fear when I saw it.

“Everything all right, sweetheart?” I asked, wiping my hands on my apron.

Lily’s head snapped up, and that bright smile I loved so much appeared on her face. But like I said, I had been watching people for 68 years; that smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Of course, Grandma. Marcus just wants to make sure I remembered to pick up his favorite wine on the way here.”, She laughed, but it sounded hollow.

“You know how he is about his Cabernet.” She said.

I did know. Marcus had been dating Lily for almost two years now, and in that time, I had watched my vibrant, independent granddaughter slowly dim.

She used to show up to family dinners with stories about her work at the nonprofit, her hiking trips with friends, or her pottery classes on weekends. Now she mostly talked about what Marcus thought, what Marcus liked, or what Marcus wanted.

But everyone else in the family seemed charmed by him. My daughter Clare, Lily’s mother, thought he was wonderful.

“So attentive,” She would say.

“He always knows where she is, always checking in. Not like these other young men who don’t care.” She continued.

I kept my mouth shut, mostly. What did I know?

Maybe I was just an old woman stuck in my ways, unable to understand modern relationships. The doorbell rang at 10:30.

I heard Marcus’s voice before I saw him, loud and cheerful as he greeted my daughter and son-in-law in the foyer., When he walked into the kitchen, he was holding a bouquet of roses.

“Mrs. Peterson, these are for you. Happy Easter.” He said.

He gave me that winning smile that everyone seemed to fall for. Marcus was handsome, I had to admit.

Tall, well-dressed, the kind of man who looked like he had everything together.

“How thoughtful,” I said, taking the flowers.

“Lily’s in the living room helping her mother set up.” I added.

“Actually, I need to borrow her for a second.” He said.

He was already walking away, pulling his phone from his pocket.

“Lily, come here. I need to talk to you.” He called.

I watched through the doorway as Lily immediately stopped what she was doing and followed him to the hallway. They were speaking in low voices, but I could see Marcus’s hand on her arm, firm, not gentle.

I could see Lily nodding, her shoulders hunched slightly forward. When they returned a few minutes later, Lily’s eyes were red.

“Allergies?” She said when her mother asked.

“The pollen’s terrible this year.” She explained.

We sat down to brunch at 11:00. I had set the table with my good china, the set my husband had given me for our 30th anniversary before he passed.,

The whole family was there: my daughter Clare and her husband Tom, my son David and his wife Sarah, their kids, and of course, Lily and Marcus. The conversation flowed easily at first.

David was telling a story about his latest fishing trip when I noticed Marcus lean over to Lily.

“You’re eating too much bread,” He whispered, but I was sitting close enough to hear.

“Remember what we talked about?” He added.

Lily’s hand froze halfway to her mouth. She put the roll back on her plate.

I felt something cold settle in my chest, but I said nothing, not yet. After the main course, I started clearing plates.

Lily jumped up to help me, like she always did, and we carried dishes into the kitchen together.

“Grandma, everything was delicious,” She said, scraping plates into the trash.

“You always make the best—” She started to say.

“Lily, where are you?” Marcus’s voice came from the dining room.

“I asked you to bring me my water.” He commanded.

“Coming!” She replied.

She dropped the plate she was holding into the sink and rushed out., I stood there alone in my kitchen, soap suds on my hands, and that cold feeling was spreading.

I had been married for 42 years before I lost my Robert. He had never once called to me like that, like I was a servant, like I was something to command.

I dried my hands slowly and walked back to the dining room where Marcus was showing everyone something on his phone.

“His portfolio,” He was saying.

“Investments he had made.” He explained.