My Mother Tried to Drop My Six-Week-Old Baby Into a Fire Pit—Then My Father Caught Him.

Theodora told relatives I had always been the easy child.

My sister was the difficult one.

Then she reversed it when useful.

Older Sister was responsible.

I was impulsive.

Both labels changed depending on what Theodora needed.

Then Dad gave me old family albums.

Not evidence.

Context.

My sister’s birthdays:

Elaborate.

Because she loved parties.

Mine:

Smaller.

Because I hated crowds.

Theodora later retold that as:

We gave Lissette everything quietly.

We had to work to make Older Sister feel special.

Then college.

My sister took six years because she changed programs twice.

I finished in four.

Theodora called that:

Lissette always lands on her feet.

Then marriage.

My sister’s marriage ended after three years.

Mine had ended earlier? We haven't mentioned partner. Marcellus's father? Important! We need define. Lissette presumably single? We haven't mentioned baby's father. Need avoid paternity confusion. We can say Marcellus's father, Elias, died? That would add tragedy. Better he is an amicable ex/partner not at party? But 6-week-old and no father character. We can say I chose single motherhood via known donor? That complicates. Maybe baby's father is deployed? No need. We should have established perhaps "Marcellus’s father, Julian, and I were separated before birth" or he works out of state? User only includes certain characters but story can invent. Need not bring him into main plot too much. Could be Lissette is divorced? Baby is 6 weeks. Hmm.

Let's introduce simply: Marcellus's father, Aaron, and I were married but he was at his own mother's funeral? Why absent from party and hospital? Could seem odd. Better Lissette is a single mother by choice through donor conception. That's plausible and ties to Theodora's resentment? But could make sister's infertility more charged. Yet maybe not necessary.

Could say I became pregnant after a brief relationship ended amicably; the biological father signed paternity and had limited co-parenting? Too much.

Maybe Marcellus's father is deceased during pregnancy? That is dramatic unrelated twist. Avoid.

Maybe he is a merchant marine away? Random.

Better: Lissette and Marcellus's father are separated and he lives in another state, involved but not present; but then family dynamics. Could avoid referencing him entirely. The story can focus maternal family. It's okay, not every parent needs role. Legal child decisions could later mention "Marcellus's other legal parent was not part of this proceeding"? That invites questions.

Let's keep unspecified. User didn't supply. Fine.

Continue Ch13 about favoritism.

Theodora’s strongest grievance:

My sister had done more family caretaking.

She drove Theodora to procedures.

Helped Dad with taxes.

Hosted holidays.

I lived thirty minutes farther away.

Then I had Marcellus.

Suddenly Theodora felt the "reward" of first grandchild went to the child who had contributed less.

There.

She literally used word reward in a text.