For years, I had believed my mother favored my sister because she loved her more.
Now I understood something different.
Mom had spent years avoiding conflict with Brenda by transferring the consequences to me.
Every unpaid bill.
Every emergency.
Every favor.
Every apology.
They had all landed on my shoulders because I was the daughter who rarely said no.
Until now.
My mother wiped her eyes.
“I didn’t think it had gone this far.”
Nina opened another document.
“It went further.”
Mom froze.
Nina placed a printed transaction history on the table.
“There were nineteen charges over the last fourteen months.”
I stared at the pages.
Groceries.
Gas.
Hotel rooms.
Online purchases.
Medical bills.
And payments to a credit card belonging to Brenda.
My stomach turned.
“How much?” I asked.
