Mom’s Fake Fairness: The Fixed Family Draw Chapter 03

Mom’s Fake Fairness: The Fixed Family Draw Chapter 03 Guilt Trip

“Oh, so when it’s your brother’s turn to pay, suddenly the whole thing was a mistake?”

I shook my head slowly. “Funny how that works.”

James shoved back from the table and got in my face, pointing right at me. “Riley, cut the crap! You have the money. That’s our mom we’re talking about You’re really gonna sit there and let her ride in some beat- up car to her doctor’s appointments? What is wrong with you? Do you even love her?”

There it was, the guilt trip.

My whole life, the moment I stopped going along with what they wanted, suddenly I was the heartless one with no conscience. I looked at James’s face, all twisted up and self righteous, and almost laughed.

‘You want to talk about love?” I said. “Be honest with me, James. Is that 50 thousand dollars really for Mom’s car, or is it so you can take your girlfriend out for joyrides on the weekend? Because we both know the answer to that.”

That hit. He turned red and got loud. “You don’t know what you’re talking about! I’m doing this for Mom. You just don’t want to pay, so now you’re dragging my name through the mud to make yourself feel

better.”

I didn’t bother arguing. I turned around, pulled a piece of paper out of my bag, and smacked it down on the table. “Then explain this.”

I smoothed it flat so everyone could see. “This sofa cost 80 thousand dollars, and it was ordered two weeks before we ever touched that tin. Two weeks, Mom. The deposit receipt has your name on it, and the notes say I’m responsible for the balance.” My voice didn’t waver. “So tell me, was that fate too?”

I stared at my mom and held up the order form. “Mom, did you seriously plan this whole thing from the

start?”

Her face went through about five different colors. Then she seemed to decide that playing innocent wasn’t worth the effort anymore.

‘Excuse me? You went digging through my paperwork? What is wrong with you?” Her voice jumped up an octave. “I raised you. I fed you. I put clothes on your back. So what if I spend a little of your money? That’s what family does.”

Lily jumped in right on cue, stepping over to rub Mom’s back like she was comforting a wounded saint. “Riley, that was so out of line. You really hurt Mom’s feelings.”

I watched the two of them and felt something go cold inside me. All those years of scraping by, and this was what it added up to.

“Fine,” I said. “Starting today, the electricity bill, the HOA fees, groceries. All of it goes in the lottery. Whoever draws the slip, pays.”

I took out my phone and canceled the supplementary cards I’d set up for them, right there in front of

everyone.

Mom’s smile disappeared. “What do you think you’re doing?”

‘Being fair,” I said, and walked to my room and locked the door.

The power went out that same night.

I already knew it would. I’d been covering the electricity bill on autopay for years. The second I canceled it, the power company cut us off.

James was mid–ranked–match when his screen went black. “What the hell! I was in my promos!”

He kicked the coffee table halfway across the room. Lily screamed from her bedroom.

‘My sheet masks! The fridge is off!”

Mom stumbled around in the dark looking for candles, cursing my name. “Riley, pay the damn bill! You rying to kill us in this heat?”

lit one of my scented candles, settled onto my bed, and cracked open a book. I could hear the chaos >utside my door, and honestly, I hadn’t felt this good in years.

And this was just the beginning.

When I got home from work the next evening, the dining table was loaded with food.

Mom was already sitting at the head of the table, smiling like the last two days hadn’t happened. James and Lily were both there too, sitting up straight, watching me with these soft, eager eyes the moment I walked in.
Riley, go wash up! I made your favorite ribs,” Mom said.

They’d cracked. I could tell immediately.

dropped my bag and sat down without washing my hands.

Just say whatever you need to say. This whole candlelight dinner thing is making me nervous.”

Mom’s smile flickered for just a second. “Riley, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I haven’t been fair to you, and I know that. I let things get too one–sided for too long.” She paused. “I’m sorry.”