Chapter 2 - Vanessa Had Been Helping Me Since Emma Was a Baby
When Emma was born, I was not prepared for how much help I would need.
Everyone says:
babies are hard.
That sentence is useless.
Sleep deprivation is hard.
Returning to work is hard.
Being responsible for another human before coffee is:
hard.
My husband, Caleb, worked construction project management and left home before seven most mornings.
I worked corporate operations.
We had daycare.
Then daycare closures.
Illness.
Schedule gaps.
My sister became the reliable backup.
Vanessa had already been home more often because she ran bookkeeping for her husband’s landscaping business and controlled much of her schedule.
Her daughter Lily was two years older than Emma.
It seemed perfect.
Cousins together.
Sisters helping sisters.
My mother loved the arrangement.
She called it:
“how families are supposed to work.”
When Emma was a baby, Vanessa was wonderful.
She rocked her.
Changed diapers.
Sent pictures.
Bought matching pajamas for:
the girls.
Emma adored:
Aunt V.
I trusted Vanessa because she was:
my sister.
Not because I had ever actually asked how she believed children should be disciplined.
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That difference only became visible later.
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