Chapter 2
That glorious peace lasted an entire month.
For thirty days, I didn't reach out to anyone in my family, and not a single one of them bothered to check on me. It was as if I simply didn't exist.
Honestly, I was living for it.
With an extra six grand staying in my checking account, I finally signed up for that boutique Pilates studio I had been eyeing. I even splurged on a high-end espresso machine I had never allowed myself to buy.
The spike in my quality of life was immediate and intoxicating.
Then came the 5th of the following month. At exactly 10:00 PM, my phone practically exploded. It was Kevin.
I stared at the screen flashing "Kevin" and let it ring.
He was relentless, calling back-to-back, over and over again.
On the fifth try, I swiped to answer but didn't say a word.
"Susan. What the hell is your problem?" Kevin roared, as if he were practically spitting fire through the speaker. "The bank just called me. My mortgage is past due, and it's already dinging my credit score. Why the hell did you stop the transfers?"
I held the phone a few inches from my ear, waiting for his tantrum to peak. When he finally stopped to take a breath, I replied casually, "Oh, I forgot to move the money over this month."
"Forgot? How do you just forget something like that? Do you have any idea how bad this messes things up for me?"
"Yeah," I said. "It hits your credit report."
My nonchalance totally derailed him. For a solid ten seconds, there was nothing but heavy, panicked breathing on his end.
"You... you need to wire me that money right now," he barked. "And you're paying the late fees, too. Do you hear me?"
"I don't have it," I replied.
"Bullshit. You pull in nine grand a month. How do you not have the money?"
"Rent. Pilates classes. Oh, I also went shopping. It's gone," I said honestly.
"You..." he choked on his own rage. "Susan Carter, are you seriously doing this on purpose? All over that stupid little thing last month?"
Stupid little thing?
A brilliant smile broke across my face.
"Kevin, wasn't your place under renovation? I figured it'd be super inconvenient for you to accept my money right now. And honestly, it's just not convenient for me anymore, either."
Before he could scream another word, I ended the call.
He blew up my phone for the next hour. I didn't answer a single one.
Half an hour later, Melissa's name flashed on the screen.
I knew the real drama was about to start.
I picked up.
"Susan, what's all this nonsense about Kevin's mortgage?" Melissa started, her voice sounding deliberately soft. She was playing the classic guilt card. "Don't hold a grudge, sweetie. We're family. If something's bothering you, we can just talk it out."
"Mom, I'm not holding a grudge. I'm just out of money," I said flatly.
She retorted, "How can you be out of money? You have a fantastic job. Did Kevin do something to upset you? Just tell me, and I'll scold him for you."
I replied, "No, he didn't do anything. It's just my money, and I've decided I want to spend it on myself for a change."
Instantly, the motherly act evaporated, replaced by her trademark venom.
"How can you be so incredibly selfish? Do you have any idea how much your brother is struggling? Family are supposed to have each other's backs.
"Isn't it your duty to help him keep his house? If it weren't for your father and me, you wouldn't be where you are today."
It was the exact same script she had used my entire life.
I could recite it backwards.
"Mom, he's thirty years old," I interjected. "He's a grown man. He has a job and a wife. It's time he takes responsibility for his own life. Helping him was a favor, not a lifelong obligation."
"Oh, so you think you're all high and mighty now, huh?" she shrieked. "Let me tell you something, Susan. Tomorrow, your brother and I are showing up at your door. I'm going to see exactly how you can be so damn cruel."
She slammed the phone down.
I stared at the dark screen, letting out a long sigh.
The inevitable finally arrived.