PART4

Household Financial Assistance and Repayment Agreement.

My father recognized it immediately.

His expression changed.

“Hollis, don’t bring that up.”

I looked at him.

“Why not?”

“That’s between us.”

“Then perhaps you should have remembered that before sending me a message telling me your family wanted nothing to do with me.”

Roland rolled his eyes.

“What does that old paperwork have to do with my wedding?”

I turned toward him.

“Because you’re about to learn something you never bothered to ask.”

I showed Lorie’s father the document.

It was a signed agreement between me and my parents.

The agreement listed every expense I had covered, the repayment terms, and the additional financial assistance I had provided.

But there was another section.

A section my parents had requested themselves.

If they ever sold the house, the outstanding amount I had paid for necessary repairs and improvements would be repaid from the proceeds before they distributed any remaining money among their children.

My father had insisted on that arrangement.

He had told me he didn’t want me to feel like I was simply throwing money into a house that Roland would eventually inherit.

I hadn’t thought much about it at the time.

I had only wanted my parents to be safe.

Now, however, I realized how little my family remembered about the sacrifices I had made.

“Dad,” I said quietly, “you told me you wanted everything to be fair. You said Roland and I should be treated equally.”

My father looked uncomfortable.

“That’s not what this is about.”

“Then what is it about?”

He didn’t answer.

I continued.

“Over the last five years, I’ve paid your property taxes twice, covered the emergency plumbing repairs, helped Mom with her medical bills, and paid for the work after your fall. I’ve never asked you to choose between your children. I’ve never asked you to love me more.”

My voice began to shake.

“But yesterday, my children were standing outside your house, and nobody opened the door.”

Pearl wiped her eyes.

“Oh, Hollis. Don’t make this into something it isn’t.”

I looked at her.

“You’re right. It isn’t about money.”

Then I turned toward Roland.

“It’s about the fact that you believe you can treat people badly as long as somebody else pays your bills.”

He took a step toward me.

“You think you’re better than everyone because you have a business?”

“No. I think I’m finally tired of paying for people who don’t respect me.”

Lorie’s father cleared his throat.

“Roland, I think we need to talk privately.”

Roland looked at him.

“About what?”

“About whether this marriage should happen.”

The entire room went silent.

Lorie started crying harder.

“Dad, please.”

He put his arm around her.

“Sweetheart, I love you. But I won’t watch you marry someone who lies to you about money and treats children like they don’t belong.”

Roland’s face went pale.

“You can’t cancel my wedding!”

Lorie looked at him.

“It’s my wedding too.”

For the first time that afternoon, Roland seemed genuinely frightened.

He turned toward my mother.

“Mom, say something!”

Pearl looked between him and Lorie.

“Everyone is upset. Let’s not make decisions today.”

But Lorie had already made hers.

She took off her engagement ring.

She placed it on the coffee table.

“I need time to think.”

Roland stared at the ring.

“You’re seriously doing this because of her?”

“No,” Lorie said quietly. “I’m doing this because of you.”

I watched her pick up her purse.

Before leaving, she approached me.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Are Jodie and Zach okay?”

I nodded.

“They’re home with Seth.”

She swallowed.

“Please tell them I’m sorry.”

“I will.”

Then she left with her parents.

Roland stood in the middle of the living room, looking like someone had suddenly removed the floor beneath him.

And Pearl?

She turned toward me with an expression I had seen many times throughout my childhood.

Disappointment.

But this time, I didn’t feel guilty.

I picked up my coat.

“I’m leaving.”

My father called after me.

“Hollis, we’re not finished discussing this.”

I stopped near the doorway.

“Dad, we finished discussing it when you told me not to come for Christmas.”

Then I walked out.

I thought that would be the end of it.

I was wrong.

At 8:17 that evening, Roland sent me a message.

You have until tomorrow morning to call Lorie and fix this. Tell her you exaggerated everything.

I didn’t respond.

At 8:24, another message arrived.

You ruined my life.

At 8:31:

You better not think you’re getting away with this.

Then my mother called.

I let it ring.

My father called next.

I let that ring too.

Finally, at 9:06, Seth came downstairs carrying his phone.

“Hollis, you need to see this.”

He showed me a message Roland had sent to our extended family group chat.

It was a photograph of the Thanksgiving dinner table.

Underneath it, he had written:

Some people would rather destroy their own family than accept that they aren’t the center of attention. My sister has canceled my wedding and is now threatening our parents over money.

Within minutes, relatives started replying.

Some asked what had happened.

Others defended Roland.

One aunt wrote that I had always been too controlling.

Another said I should remember that my parents were getting older and shouldn’t have to deal with unnecessary family drama.

I stared at the messages.

Then I noticed something strange.

My cousin Melissa had written:

Roland, are you sure you want everyone discussing who actually paid for the wedding? Because I remember something you told me last month.

I immediately called her.

She answered on the second ring.

“Hollis?”

“What did Roland tell you?”

There was a pause.

Then she sighed.

“He told me you had promised to give him twenty thousand dollars as a wedding gift. He said the money was already set aside.”

I closed my eyes.

“I never promised him that.”

“I know that now.”

“What else did he say?”

Melissa hesitated.

“He said you were going to cover the venue and catering because you wanted your parents to be proud of you. He also told me he had borrowed money from your father to pay for the wedding.”

I sat down.

CONTINUE FOR NEXT PART5…