Chapter 19 - ANSELM AND THE OLDER DAUGHTER
Dad and my sister started seeing each other again without me.
At first I felt betrayed.
Then stopped.
He was her father too.
She had not released Marcellus.
She had made a terrible choice.
Their relationship was theirs.
Dad told me only what affected my safety.
Nothing else.
Good.
Then one afternoon he said:
“She apologized for blocking you.”
“I know.”
“She keeps blaming your mother.”
“I know.”
“I told her not to.”
I looked at him.
“Good.”
Then:
“She asked if I think she’s a bad person.”
“What did you say?”
“That is a useless question.”
I smiled.
Dad was learning therapy language.
Then:
“I said she did something bad and has to understand why.”
Better.
Then Dad admitted:
“I helped create the favoritism too.”
“How?”
“I always called her your mother’s helper.”
My sister had been Theodora’s reliable child.
Dad relied on that.
Family errands.
Appointments.
Holiday preparation.
Then when my sister struggled with infertility, Theodora intensified:
After everything you’ve done for us, you deserve this.
Dad heard.
Did not challenge enough.
Again.
A family system.
May you like
Not equal culpability.
Still shared environment.
