Chapter 9 - After the Fire, Rebecca Refused to Become Mom’s Excuse
Rebecca arrived at the hospital after police contacted her as part of the family information gathering.
She walked into my room already crying.
“I’m sorry.”
I said:
“No.”
She stopped.
“You don’t apologize.”
“Margaret—”
“No.”
“Mom did this.”
“Not you.”
She sat beside me.
Looked at Lily asleep against my chest.
Then at Dad’s bandaged hand.
“What did she say?”
James told:
her.
That baby should burn for stealing your sister’s place.
Rebecca closed her eyes.
Then:
“She’s been saying things.”
I stared.
“You knew too?”
Rebecca looked horrified.
“Not like that.”
“What did she say?”
“She told me Lily was supposed to be mine.”
My skin crawled.
“When?”
“After Lily was born.”
“And?”
“I told her to stop.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought telling you would make you feel like I secretly agreed.”
There it was.
Another adult choosing:
silence
to protect feelings.
Rebecca continued.
“Mom said you used my baby name.”
“She said everyone was celebrating you before I got another chance.”
“I told her I don’t want another pregnancy right now.”
“She said grief was talking.”
Rebecca laughed bitterly.
“Apparently everyone gets to decide what my grief says except me.”
She turned toward Dad.
“Why didn’t you do something?”
James looked down.
“I thought I was.”
“No.”
“You were containing her.”
Different.
That distinction became important.
Dad had treated Mom’s obsession like:
a spill.
Keep it from spreading.
But some things need:
intervention,
May you like
not containment.
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