Chapter 7 - My Sister and I Had Been Competing in a Contest Neither of Us Designed
Rebecca met me at the hotel later that afternoon.
Without Diane.
The girls stayed with Matt for the holiday morning. Lily sat nearby watching cartoons.
Rebecca brought:
coffee,
two muffins,
an expression I recognized from childhood.
Guilty before anyone accused:
her.
She said:
“I didn’t know.”
“I believe you.”
“I thought you hated coming home.”
“I sometimes do.”
“Mom says you always make excuses.”
“I work.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She flinched.
Fair.
Then Rebecca said something I had not expected.
“Do you know what Mom says about you?”
“Probably.”
“She says you use money so you don’t have to be family.”
That landed.
I stared at her.
Rebecca continued.
“She says I’m the one who actually shows up.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You do live fifteen minutes away.”
“I know.”
“But she also makes me feel like I owe her because she helps with my kids.”
There.
Same system.
Different currency.
Diane took money from:
me.
Gave childcare to:
Rebecca.
Then made both daughters feel indebted.
Rebecca said:
“Whenever I complain about Mom overstepping with the girls, she says, ‘Claire would kill for this kind of help.’”
I almost laughed.
“Whenever I say Mom expects too much money, she says, ‘Rebecca would do anything for family if she had what you have.’”
We stared at each other.
Thirty-seven and thirty-four.
Two adult women finally realizing our mother had been using each sister as evidence against the other.
Not necessarily with some master plan.
Diane hated feeling unnecessary.
Comparison kept both daughters:
engaged.
One financially.
One physically.
Dad had buffered that dynamic.
May you like
After he died, it intensified.
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