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His eyes widened, and it caused me to chuckle, though nothing was funny.
“Imagine that,” I continued. “My own aunt wishing death upon me over money. Now, that shit hurt.”
“Callum... I’m... I’m sorry, man.”
“Don’t be. She said what she said, and I fully believe she meant it. I would never ask you to go against your mother. Regardless of what I think of her, she’s the only parent you have left, and I know you love her. You won’t be jeopardizing your relationship on my behalf. There’s no love lost between us, but I’m standing firm in protecting my peace.”
He looked hurt by my rejection. I hated to have to do it because, once upon a time, he and his siblings were my favorite cousins. Sheila was his mother. As spiteful as she was, I believed she would cut him off for having anything to do with me. I knew what it was like to be without my parents. Having someone be dead to you without them actually being dead can hurt about as bad as if they were already gone.
William stood and extended his hand. “I’m sorry, I truly am. I hate that this is your decision, but I’ll respect it. For what it’s worth, I’ve always wished things were different.”
“Yeah,... me too.”
No other words were spoken between us. He dropped my hand and left the office. I sat back in my chair, covering my face with my hands. I thought back to that conversation with my aunt that day.
I’d been sitting in my living room watching TV when I heard a car door close outside. I walked over to the window to see Sheila and Glenda marching up the front steps. I sighed heavily as I unlocked and opened the door.
“Can I help you?” I asked.
They barged right past me and into the house.
“Why, yes, won’t you come in?” I said sarcastically as I closed the door.
“We won’t be long,” Sheila said, glaring at me. “I just want to know what made you think it was okay to come to my husband’s funeral, starting trouble?”
“I didn’t come to start trouble. I came to pay my respects.”
She scoffed. “Pay your respects? After the way that you disrespected all of us?”
“You mean after the way that all of you stood in my parents’ house two weeks after their death, fighting over who should get their money? Or after I caught you in my parents’ bedroom going through their things? Or after all of you flat-out said you wouldn’t take us in without compensation? If I disrespected anybody, I promise it was warranted.”
Sheila rolled her eyes. “We all had children of our own. Did you really think we could take you in without some kind of payment? Raising kids ain’t cheap.”
“And I completely understand that. I would have gladly given you money to make sure that my sister was okay while I was in school. None of you talked to me. None of you asked how we could make this work. None of you asked anything. And after hearing what was said, do you honestly think I would leave my only sister in the hands of people who didn’t give a fuck about her? Sheila, you were my uncle’s wife, not even my blood, so you had no say-so at all. That’s why I cursed you out. You spoke for you and your husband, and he allowed that shit. All you wanted was the money.
“Glenda, not only did you want the money, but you also wanted my parents’ house. You were already prepared to kick me out and move in here. Where was I supposed to go when I came home from school? Did you expect me to sleep on the couch when I had a whole bedroom?”
Glenda shook her head. “Sacrifices had to be made if you wanted your sister to be taken care of—”
“Sacrifices?” I yelled. “My parents sacrificed their lives! That’s the only way anybody would have gotten that insurance money!”
Sheila laughed. “It wasn’t just insurance money. You think we didn’t know about the trust fund?”
My brows furrowed.
“Oh, you’re confused now?” Glenda asked. “You were willing to throw us a few dollars to care for Bella while you blew through your trust fund? You wanted to saddle us with the responsibility of raising a kid for five years while you went off and lived your best life.”
I laughed. When I say laughed, it was a good, hearty laugh. They looked angry at my reaction. Sheila raised a hand to slap me, but I grabbed it.
“Don’t even think about putting your damn hands on me. My parents didn’t hit me, and I’ll be damned if you start.”
She glared at me and snatched her arm away.
“According to my mother’s letter, my grandmother left all three of her children money. Sheila, you and your husband ran through his trying to keep up with the Joneses. Glenda, you decided to be a damn sugar mama to men who dropped you as soon as they got all they could get out of you. My mother, being the smart woman she was, invested hers in her children. You were gagging on audacity and entitlement if you thought for a second that either of you would capitalize off that money.”
I walked over to my front door and opened it.
“James is dead. I’m sure he had a nice insurance policy, so, Sheila, you’ll be okay. Glenda,... you like to trick. Maybe you’ll find a man who’s willing to trick off on you one day. Now, get out of my house.”
