“We do love you,” Mom insisted, but her voice had gone quieter, less certain. “But you have to understand our position. We have limited time, limited resources—”
“You have $550 a week of MY resources,” I shot back. “You have a car I’m paying for. Phones I’m paying for. A credit card with my name on it. And you used all of that to fund a life that doesn’t include your own granddaughter.”
“We were going to make it up to her—”
“When? When were you going to make it up to her? After the next trip to Phoenix? After the next expensive dinner? After you’ve bled me dry enough that I can’t afford to keep my own child housed and fed?”
I could hear voices in the background now—my father, Danny, someone else. Mom’s voice went muffled as she covered the phone, having a heated discussion with someone.
Then she was back, her tone shifting to something more manipulative, more practiced. “Sarah, honey, I think you’re overreacting. You’re emotional right now, and that’s understandable, but this is something we should discuss calmly when everyone’s had a chance to cool down—”
“There’s nothing to discuss. It’s done.”
“You can’t just cut us off like this! We need that money! The mortgage payment is due next week, and without your help, we could lose the house!”
“Then I suggest you figure out how to make your mortgage payment. Get full-time jobs. Sell the house and downsize. Do what millions of other people in this country do when they can’t afford their lifestyle.”
“We’re too old to start over! Your father’s back problems mean he can’t work full shifts—”
“Dad’s back was fine enough to fly to Phoenix. Fine enough to attend a dinner party tonight. Maybe his back problems are selective.”
“That’s cruel!”
“What’s cruel is making your granddaughter think she did something wrong. What’s cruel is taking money from your struggling daughter while calling her life depressing. What’s cruel is saying we don’t count the same as Danny’s family.”
“Your father was upset! He didn’t mean it!”
“He meant every word. And you know what? He was right. We don’t count on you. So I’ve decided you don’t get to count on me anymore either.”
