Chapter 8 - THE COUSINS
Connor was eleven.
Madison nine.
I did not blame them.
That took effort.
Connor had called Sophie lazy.
Madison called her a freeloader.
Children repeat currency they do not mint.
Maya interviewed them separately.
Connor admitted Natalie told him:
“Don’t help Sophie with the basket. She needs to learn.”
Madison said Linda told her:
“Sophie gets everything handed to her.”
Everything.
My daughter whose father died at four.
Who still slept with his old hoodie on difficult nights.
Who saved birthday money because she thought emergencies were normal.
Everything.
Connor also disclosed something else.
“Aunt Megan is taking Grandma’s house.”
I stared when Maya told me.
“What?”
“Apparently that is something discussed around the children.”
I paid part of Mom’s mortgage.
I was not taking the house.
Then Madison said:
“Mom says Sophie thinks she owns Grandma’s house because Aunt Megan pays.”
There.
Natalie was rewriting my help into threat.
Why?
The answer arrived later.
For now, I asked to speak with the kids only after Maya approved.
I did not confront.
Connor looked miserable.
“I’m sorry.”
“For?”
“Calling Sophie a baby.”
“Tell her when she wants to hear it.”
He nodded.
“Did you know she could leave the house?”
“No.”
“Did you think Grandma would lock her out?”
“No.”
“What did you think would happen?”
Connor stared at his shoes.
“She’d cry.”
“And?”
“Come back.”
My chest tightened.
“Why?”
“Grandma said she always comes back because she has nowhere else.”
I had to stand.
Not because I was angry at Connor.
May you like
Because I might have broken in front of him.
Children should not have to watch adults discover the cruelty behind sentences they repeat.
