His voice rose.
“You don’t get to humiliate this family just because you have money,” he said. “We drove nine hours. We came here to spend time together. As a family. And you are going to let us stay.”
Melissa folded her arms. Triumphant.
My mother clutched the itinerary to her chest.
And for a moment, I was eight years old again.
Ezoic
Standing in our kitchen in Cary. In 1994. My father standing over me. Deciding what was fair.
Melissa gets the bigger bedroom because she’s younger.
Melissa gets to go to the beach with her friends because she asked first.
Melissa gets the car on Saturday because she has a date. You can take the bus.
Ezoic
Morgan, don’t be difficult. Your sister needs it more.
And everyone else obeyed.
My mother obeyed. I obeyed.
Except this wasn’t his kitchen.
Ezoic
And I wasn’t eight.
Deputy Hale stepped forward.
