island in a cream suit, calmly scrolling through photos of Paris hotels as if her son had only spilled his drink.
“Don’t be dramatic, Claire,” she said. “You earn enough. Family makes sacrifices.”
I had heard that sentence for seven years.
When Daniel’s business failed, I paid the mortgage. When Vivian needed dental implants, I covered the bill. When Daniel wanted a new SUV because his colleagues were “starting to notice,” I transferred the deposit.
He called it partnership.
Vivian called it my duty.
But the Europe trip was different.
