“She can’t sleep.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“You don’t sound sorry.”
“I’m not paying to fix it.”
Dad’s face reddened.
“You think this is funny?”
“No.”
“I think it’s overdue.”
“You’re punishing your mother because you’re mad at me.”
“No.”
“Mom was part of the decision.”
His expression shifted.
“You don’t know what happened.”
“Then explain it.”
Dad looked down the hallway.
Then back at me.
“You were making the trip about yourself.”
I blinked.
“I paid for it.”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
“You picked everything.”
“Because everyone gave me a list.”
“You wanted the penthouse.”
“I paid for the penthouse.”
“You wanted special treatment.”
“I wanted one nice room for myself.”
Dad scoffed.
“You always need to prove you’re doing better than us.”
That sentence landed differently.
Suddenly, the last several years made more sense.
The little insults.
The jokes about my career.
The comments about my house.
The way Dad became quiet whenever someone complimented me.
This was not only about money.
He resented me.
I looked at him.
“Is that why you didn’t want me here?”
He paused.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“You didn’t want the person paying for the vacation because my being here reminded you that I paid for it.”
Dad’s nostrils flared.
“You think you’re smarter than everyone.”
“I think that answer tells me enough.”
He stepped closer to the door.
“I’m your father.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t talk to me like this.”
“I do now.”
His face changed.
He looked almost stunned.
Then angry.
“You think money makes you powerful.”
“No.”
“Money made me useful to you.”
“That’s different.”
He stared through the opening.
“Fix the rooms.”
“No.”
“I’m telling you.”
“No.”
“I paid for half your college.”
I almost laughed.
Dad had paid for one semester.
Grandma paid the first year.
I covered the rest with scholarships, loans, and work.
“You want to compare receipts?”
I asked.
His face went dark.
I closed the door.
He knocked again.
I walked away.
On the third day, the family stopped confronting me directly.
Instead, they changed tactics.
Mom posted photos online.
Five smiling faces.
Matching shirts.
Caption.
MAKING THE BEST OF THINGS EVEN WHEN SOME PEOPLE CHOOSE MONEY OVER FAMILY.
I saw it because Bree sent me a screenshot.
I did not respond.
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