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Ari looked a bit anxious in addition to her surprise that Isabelle wasn’t going to lie down and take it this time. “I don’t understand the problem—”
“The problem is that Gran wants to see you. Not me.” Not ever me.
And there it was.
The true problem.
Her grandmother had a favorite, and it wasn’t her.
That was what hurt most of all. Gran loved Ari more. And it crushed her.
It truly wasn’t the fact that Ari always had plans. It was the certainty that Isabelle would have to see the ever-present disappointed look in Gran’s eyes, along with the continual recurrence of that sad pitiful expression each time they spoke for the entire visit.
Ari brushed her off. “That’s not true, Izzy. Gran loves you. She loves us both.”
“No. She doesn’t. She tolerates me. She has never loved me like she loves you. Everyone in our family knows that one truth. Why don’t you?”
“You’re mistaken, Izzy.” Ari was shaking her head, but her face was now pointed to the ground as if she couldn’t support the lie if she dared gaze into Isabelle’s eyes.
Isabelle girded her loins for this coming battle. “No. I’m not mistaken. You’re the firstborn girl after an army of boy babies in our family. As second-born female, I might as well hold the title of second-class citizen as far as Gran is concerned.”
Ari lifted her head and gave her a sudden brief look of understanding, but the expression didn’t remain for very long. Another more determined look settled on her sister’s face. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but it doesn’t change anything. I can’t stay with Gran this time. You’ll have to figure something out.”
“I have a college class, Ari. In fact, I have a comprehensive final Chemistry exam scheduled. Why doesn’t that trump your social life? Why isn’t anything I do ever more important than anything in your life?”
Ari’s face lit up as if with the perfect idea to solve this problem. “Maybe you could hire—”
“With what money?”
“Gran has some house cash put away for emergencies—”
“Which she is unwilling to part with when she wants to see you. Not to mention that there is no one willing to come for the price Gran will pay.”
“What if—”
“I know,” Isabelle said sarcastically. “Why don’t we share this responsibility?”
“Izzy. I already told you—”
Isabelle ignored both what she started to say and the fact she’d used the hated nickname again. “We should share this responsibility, but instead I shoulder it ninety-nine point nine percent of the time. It’s your turn, Ari. It’s been your turn for a long time.”
Her sister crossed her arms like she meant business. A positively sinister look shaped her features. “Bottom line, Izzy, I can’t miss this concert. I simply cannot. You’ll have to reschedule your final test. I know it can be done. I know schools make exceptions all the time for family issues.”
Even in that moment when a single-minded fury rose unbidden in her soul, Isabelle found a sense of calm she didn’t know she possessed, and said serenely, “Fine. Go to your concert. I’ll reschedule my test. But then we’re done, you and me. We. Are. Done.”
This was well and truly the very final straw. The final straw had been pushed around, overly mangled, and finally bent too far backward to ever recover. Isabelle wouldn’t be surprised to find that her back was already broken and only responded out of habit.
“You don’t mean that, Izzy.” Ari approached her as if now that she’d gotten her way—again—it was time to suck up and make friends. Well, Isabelle meant what she said.
“I do mean it,” she said the words out loud. She then turned from Ari’s open arms and walked away.
If she couldn’t count on her only sister for this issue with Gran, then she was done. Done making excuses. Done playing second fiddle to her older—and in her grandmother’s eyes—worthier sister. Done being the ever-giving patsy. Done. Done. Done.
Isabelle rescheduled her test, taking a full letter grade lower for not taking the final exam as originally scheduled. It turned out to be the only B she received while attending college.
Two weeks after the blow-up with Ari, their grandmother died. Isabelle was the only family member in attendance at the end. Her Gran’s last words were a message to Ari. “Make sure she knows that I love her so very much. Tell her she was always my sweet angel girl.”
It turned out that Isabelle couldn’t give Ari their Gran’s final message, and not because of the fight, but because Ari went AWOL from their lives. She disappeared without so much as a by your leave into whatever wild party world she’d created for herself. Isabelle felt a bit guilty, having told her sister she was done after the test reschedule fiasco. She hadn’t believed he sister would actually go away.
