“Do you have any idea how many times I’ve babysat for you over the past three years? I’ve lost count. And I’ve never asked for anything in return, never complained, never been anything but available whenever you called.”
“And we appreciate that,” Patrick said, in the tone of someone who had never appreciated anything in his life. “Which is why we thought you’d be cool helping out one more time.”
“I’m not cool with being uninvited from Mom’s birthday and then expected to provide free childcare. I’m not cool with finding out you’re inheriting everything while I get a pile of old paperbacks. I’m not cool with any of this, actually.”
Patrick’s face darkened.
“The will thing is not my fault. That’s Mom’s decision.”
“And you’re perfectly happy to benefit from it without questioning whether it’s fair or right.”
“Life isn’t fair, Amy. You of all people should know that by now. Some people need more help than others. That’s just how it is.”
I looked at Melissa, who had the grace to appear uncomfortable. She knew this was wrong. I could see it in the way she would not quite meet my eyes. But she would not speak up, would not risk her husband’s inheritance by suggesting he share it.
“Did Mom ever mention to either of you that she planned to leave everything to Patrick, or did you just receive the documents from the lawyer like I did?”
Melissa glanced at Patrick before answering.
“She talked to us about it a few months ago. She wanted to make sure we were comfortable with the arrangement.”
A few months ago.
This had been in the works for that long, and no one had thought to give me a heads-up. They had all been complicit in keeping me in the dark.
“So everyone knew except me. Everyone got to weigh in except me. Do you understand how that feels?”
Patrick shifted impatiently.
“Look, we don’t have time for this. We need to know if you’re going to help this weekend or not. Just a yes or no, Amy. Don’t make this complicated.”
“No. The answer is no. I have plans.”
“What plans? You live alone and work all the time. What could you possibly have planned that’s more important than family?”
The contempt in his voice was stunning, as if my life was so empty and meaningless that I should always be available to serve his needs.
“I’m going to Denver. I have a flight in four hours.”
“Denver for what?”
“For myself. Because I want to. Because I can. I don’t need a better reason than that.”
Melissa spoke up, her voice gentler than Patrick’s, but no less manipulative.
“Amy, I understand you’re hurt, but taking off to another state in the middle of a family crisis isn’t going to solve anything. Stay. Help us through this weekend, and then we can all sit down and talk about the will situation. I’m sure there’s room for compromise.”
“There’s no compromise. The will is legal and final. Mom made her choice, and I’m making mine.”
Patrick’s phone rang. He answered it, walking a few steps away. I could hear my mother’s voice on the other end, high-pitched and upset. He listened for a moment, then put her on speaker.
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