I was driving toward my late mother’s house, her passing still fresh in my mind. The funeral had just been last week, and now, I was left to deal with the things she left behind. The hard decisions, the practical stuff that always seemed to fall on me.
It was always me. I was the one everyone turned to. The one who had to stay calm, the rational one in the family. It had been the same when Mom got sick.
Through everything, I stayed by her side. I fed her, made sure she took her medicine, paid the bills, and did everything I could to keep her comfortable. I was her constant, the one who never left. I thought, after all that, there was no way the house wouldn’t be mine. Not Phoebe’s.
Phoebe was… well, complicated. Always had been. She had a way of falling apart when things got tough. Unpredictable. Life had never quite figured her out, and I couldn’t help but worry. After all, she was my little sister. Even if we weren’t close, I couldn’t abandon her.
Beside me in the car, Dan was quiet, but the smell of alcohol on him told me everything. He had promised me he’d quit drinking, but that familiar scent never lied. I had my breaking point, but right now, I was focused. We pulled up to Mom’s house, and my stomach tightened at the sight of it.
Standing outside was the lawyer I had hired. His briefcase in hand, he looked at me with a solemn expression.
“Hi,” I said as we stepped out of the car. “Why aren’t you inside?”
“It’s locked,” he replied, glancing at the front door.
“Locked?” I frowned. “Phoebe told me she’d get here early.” I pulled out my phone and called her, but it went straight to voicemail.
“Her phone’s off,” I muttered, slipping the phone back in my pocket. Great. Now we were stuck outside. And I didn’t have the keys.
Dan shook his head behind me. “Your sister, as usual. She needs a babysitter or something.”
“She’ll be here soon,” I said, trying to stay calm. I shot him a warning look, daring him to say anything else.
Minutes later, I saw Phoebe walking up the driveway. Her hair was messy, and dark streaks of mascara ran down her face. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days.
“Rough night, huh?” I asked, crossing my arms.
Phoebe smirked weakly. “Is it that obvious?”
“Get yourself together. The lawyer’s waiting,” I said, motioning toward the house.
“Oh, please,” she scoffed, brushing past me. “We all know the house is going to you. You’re the perfect daughter, remember?”
I clenched my teeth, biting back the anger. I knew she was struggling. Mom’s death had hit her hard. Phoebe always looked so much like Mom. She was the one who seemed to have everything, while I took on the responsibilities. I didn’t expect a thank-you, but I never expected this.
Inside, we sat down, and the lawyer began reading the will. His voice echoed in the room until he said the words I wasn’t ready to hear.
“The house and all assets go to Phoebe.”
“What?” I blurted out, staring at him, my voice rising. “What do you mean the house goes to Phoebe?”
“I’m just reading what’s written,” the lawyer said, his tone calm and neutral.
“That’s not fair!” Dan exploded, his voice filled with outrage. “Katherine was the only one who cared for her mother! Phoebe didn’t do anything!” He pointed an accusatory finger toward Phoebe.
Phoebe shot to her feet, her face crumpling as she ran out the door.
“Dan!” I snapped.
“What? You know I’m right!” he retorted, still heated.
I didn’t respond. Rolling my eyes, I got up and followed Phoebe outside.
Phoebe was sitting on the bench in the backyard, the one Mom always loved. She looked small, tired, her shoulders hunched forward. Her hands were fidgeting nervously in her lap.
“Sorry about Dan,” I said, sitting beside her.
“It’s fine,” she replied flatly. “He’s always like that. You should leave him.”
“I can’t,” I said, my voice soft. “He’s my husband.”
Phoebe didn’t say anything else. She stared straight ahead, her face blank. I hesitated before speaking again. “Sell me the house,” I said, the words coming out in a rush. “What?”
“You need money for your flower shop,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Sell it to me. I’ll tear it down and build the house I’ve always dreamed of. I thought Mom would leave it to me—”
“No,” Phoebe said firmly, cutting me off.
“What do you mean, no?” I frowned. “I’m not selling the house to you. Mom left it to me,” she said, her voice rising, her words sharp.
“You didn’t do anything to deserve it!” I shouted, the anger bubbling over. “I cared for her! I fed her, bathed her, paid the bills! I was there when she couldn’t even walk! And still, she gave it to you because you were her favorite!”
“You have everything, Katherine!” Phoebe screamed, standing up now, her voice full of pain. “A good job, a husband—even if he’s terrible—and a million opportunities. You were even offered a job abroad! But you can’t make a choice! I have nothing! Just this house!”
“And I have responsibilities!” I shot back, tears stinging my eyes. “Do you know why I didn’t take that job? Because I couldn’t leave you! You wouldn’t cope!”
“Get out!” Phoebe screamed, her face flushed with rage. “I’m not giving you the house!”
“Then I’ll take it!” I yelled, storming away, my heart pounding.
I tried to forget the argument with Phoebe. She had a point; I did have everything. I could buy another house if I wanted to. But Dan wouldn’t let it go. He kept pushing me to contest the will, saying it wasn’t fair and that I deserved the house.
I didn’t get why it mattered so much to him. But his persistence wore me down.
So began the endless meetings, the lawyers, the bitter back-and-forth. Phoebe acted like she didn’t care, shrugging her way through each meeting as if none of it mattered. Then, just days before the court date, I found something I didn’t expect.
In Dan’s office, a pile of bills and overdue notices caught my eye. My stomach dropped.
I grabbed the papers and marched into our bedroom, where Dan was lying on the bed.
“Anything you want to explain?” I asked, holding up the bills, my voice trembling with anger.
Dan sat up, his face draining of color. “Katherine, it’s all a misunderstanding,” he said quickly.
“A misunderstanding?” I repeated, my voice rising. “Do you see how much debt you have? Where did all this come from?”
Dan rubbed his hands over his face, avoiding my gaze. “We can fix this,” he said, his voice weak.
“We?” I snapped. “Is that why you pushed me to fight Phoebe for the house? So we could sell it and pay off your debts?”
Dan’s face twisted with frustration. “She doesn’t deserve it anyway!” he shouted, standing up. “She’s ruining our lives! You run to her every time she calls! And you didn’t even want to contest the will, even though you were the one who cared for your mother!”
“Because Phoebe couldn’t be there!” I yelled back. “It tore her apart to see Mom like that! Where did these debts come from, Dan?”
He looked down, his shoulders sagging. “Gambling,” he muttered.
“Gambling?” I echoed, stunned. “But if we sell the house,” he continued quickly, “I’ll pay it all back. I’ll quit for good. This can fix everything.”
“Like you quit drinking?” I asked, my voice icy with disbelief.
Dan didn’t answer, guilt written all over his face. “You’re impossible,” I said, shaking my head in disgust. I turned and walked out of the room, grabbing my keys.
I drove straight to Mom’s house, the only place that felt right. I rang the doorbell, and Phoebe opened it almost immediately.
“What?” she asked, her expression tired, irritated. “Did you come to persuade me again before the court date?”
“No,” I said, stepping inside as she moved aside. “Dan gambled away a ton of money.”
Phoebe’s face shifted, the irritation fading into surprise. She didn’t say anything but led me to the backyard, to the bench where we had spent so many hours with Mom.
After a long silence, Phoebe spoke, her voice quieter now. “We can sell the house and split the money.”
I shook my head, refusing. “No, I’m not doing that. Mom left the house to you, so it’s yours. She wanted you to have it.”
“But you were going to take it from me,” Phoebe said softly, her tone accusing but not harsh.
“I know,” I said, the shame rising. “That was an empty threat during the fight. Dan pushed me to go through with it, and now I know why.”
“You’re not paying off his debt?” Phoebe asked, her eyes studying me carefully.
“No,” I said, firm. “The only person I’d sacrifice everything for is you.”
Phoebe was silent for a long time, staring at the ground. Finally, she spoke. “I’m sorry for yelling at you. I’ve always felt like I was in your shadow. Katherine this, Katherine that. I was just the weird girl who made jokes.”
“Just like Mom,” I said, smiling softly.
“Yeah,” Phoebe agreed, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“I know you couldn’t help it. It was too painful for you to see her like that. Mom knew it, too. That’s why she always talked about you. She loved you more. I always felt like I was in your shadow,” I admitted.
Phoebe laughed softly. “Looks like Mom should’ve taken parenting lessons before having kids.”
I laughed with her, the tension breaking.
“So, what will you do?” Phoebe asked after a pause.
“Leave Dan, give you money for your flower shop, and take that job abroad,” I said.
“Katherine,” Phoebe said, making me look at her.
“Yes?” I asked, curious.
“I’ll be fine. And so will you,” she said.
“Yeah
, I know,” I replied, pulling her into a tight hug, finally feeling like things would be okay.
