Mom continued.
“I need you to know something first. None of this is your responsibility.”
I closed my eyes.
“You’ve always thought being the oldest meant you had to carry everyone. Even when you were five and Vicky wasn’t even born, you tried to carry all the grocery bags because you said Dad looked tired.”
A laugh broke through my tears.
I remembered.
The bags had ripped.
Oranges had rolled across the driveway.
Mom had laughed so hard she sat on the porch.
Her recorded voice softened.
“If we’re gone, you’re going to think you failed us.”
My chest hurt.
“You didn’t.”
I pressed my fist against my mouth.
“You hear me? You didn’t.”
Mercer’s back remained turned.
I cried anyway.
“We’ve discovered that Howard has taken money from accounts connected to your grandparents’ estate. Denise may know more than she’s admitted. Your father has confronted Howard twice.”
Mom inhaled.
