I turned to my husband, certain he'd say something fair.
Instead, Seth James put on his most reasonable voice.
"Even brothers settle their debts. Your mother's an outsider. She should've expected to pay."
I didn't argue. I didn't cry. I transferred fifteen thousand dollars to them right then and there.
But that money wasn't for lodging.
It was tuition.
For a lesson they'd never forget.
——
The day I had the baby, Cornelia had shown up at the hospital with her suitcase already packed.
She recorded a short video of the baby, sent it to her group chat so her friends could fawn over her brand-new grandson.
Then she turned to me without missing a beat.
"Prudence, I made plans with the girls to go on a trip today. You and Seth will have to manage the baby on your own."
"I'll bring you back a souvenir."
I almost thought I'd heard her wrong.
Because ever since I married Seth, Cornelia had hounded me about having a baby. She swore up and down that all I had to do was give birth. With her around, I wouldn't have to lift a finger.
I believed her.
And what did I get?
The baby was barely out of me before she was on her way to the airport.