This is the tenth part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, and Part IX before continuing.
The two siblings came up with a plan to confront their parents the next time they had dinner with them.
Tolbert was ready to tear into Mom, but Madison had had more time to think about it, so she pointed out that Aunt Alison had been Dad’s sister, so he must have played a role in this whole mess.
They agreed they would wait until they had finished with dinner, but Tolbert failed spectacularly at that plan.
As soon as Dad asked them what they had been up to lately, Tolbert answered with, “Finding out about Aunt Alison.”
Dad froze. His face took on that heavy-lidded look it tended to get when he didn’t want to respond to something. Tolbert’s breathing got heavier in a way that told Madison he was getting more worked up.
Madison looked to Mom, who looked to Dad, but he was still looking at Tolbert. So Mom glanced back at Madison, and when she found an equally hostile stare, she licked her lips in the way she always did when she was nervous.
After another minute or two of silence, Madison was the one who cracked. “Were you ever going to tell us we had an aunt?”
“As far as we’re concerned, you didn’t,” Dad said.
“And who’s choice was that?”
“Hers.”
“Bullshit.”
“What do you know about it?”
“She left us her estate.”
Dad snorted. “What? All five dollars of it?”
That stunned Madison into silence. After a moment she said, “When was the last time you talked to your sister?”
Dad looked at Mom, who continued licking her lips and flicking her eyes from one person to another, but still not saying anything. “When your mom was pregnant with your older brother.”
That shut them both up, as any mention of the brother who had died in infancy usually did.
But Madison was still pissed. “I don’t suppose he ever got to meet his aunt either.”
Dad gave her a look that was equal parts incredulity and horror. That look had the desired effect, but not for long. Madison reminded herself that her parents had created this situation. She crossed her arms over her chest and raised her eyebrows to indicate she was still waiting for a response.
Dad let out another low snort. “No, she didn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because she was constantly rude to your mother, making snide comments and mean jokes every chance she got.”
He stared her down, but Madison held his gaze. “That’s it?”
He gave her that look again that was half incredulity half horror before collecting himself enough to say, “No, actually, that’s not it. She also published a book all about your mother calling her a gold digger.”
This time Madison was the one to let out a snort, but with a smile rather than a look of anger. “Yeah, I read it. It’s hilarious.”
Finally, Mom spoke up. “You read it?”
“Yeah. I couldn’t put it down. It was a real page turner.”
“How did you read it?”
“With my eyes?”
“She means how did you find out about it?” said Dad.
“Oh, well, since she left everything she had to us, that included the keys to her house. Tolbert and I went up there to look around, and she had a copy of the book in her library, so I picked it up and started reading. She was a really good writer!”
Madison couldn’t help throwing in the last dig just to piss off Mom. It happened to be true, but she wouldn’t have said it if she hadn’t been looking to hurt Mom.
Judging from the look on Mom’s face, it had the desired effect.
Dad’s face got that closed-off expression it tended to get when he considered a matter closed. “Then you know why she was never around.”
“Not really. I mean, the book was funny, but it clearly came from a place of pain. What did you do to her to make her write it?”
“Nothing!” Dad said so forcefully Madison knew it was a lie.
She looked to Mom, although she wasn’t sure why. She knew Mom only ever presented herself in the best light … until your back was turned.
Dad saw Madison shift her attention, and he said, “You know your mom. You know she’s always nice to everyone.”
“No, I know she’s nice when it benefits her to be nice, but as soon as your back is turned, she’ll stab you right in the heart. In fact, I think I have the perfect punishment.”
Madison turned back to Mom. “You cut our aunt out of our lives without even telling us, much less asking our permission. I think it’s only fair that we cut you out of our lives.”
“You can’t do that,” Mom said, sounding more panicked than convinced.
“Why not?”
“Because if you do, who will pay your rent while you’re waiting for your acting career to get off the ground?” said Dad.
The question filled Madison with satisfaction because it gave her the opportunity to turn to him and say, “Aunt Alison,” before turning on her heel and walking out the door.
To be continued…