“I knew you’d understand.”
“I am the strong one,” I said. “And I’m also the one whose name is on all the family bank accounts.”
I started dialing.
“The one who’s been paying off Dad’s credit cards since he retired early. The one who used her savings as backup for your emergency loan.”
Dad froze with his champagne glass halfway to his mouth.
“What are you doing?”
“Yes, hello,” I said into the phone. “This is Jacqueline Matau. I’d like to close account number 556148 right away. Yes, I understand it will affect other accounts. That’s what I want.”
“Jacqueline, stop!”
Mom tried to grab my phone, but I stepped back.
“You can’t do this,” she said.
“Actually, I can. It’s my money.”
I looked straight at Lauren.
“Enjoy the car, sis. I hope it was worth it.”
“You’re just jealous!” she yelled as I walked to my car. “Jealous that Mom and Dad love me more. That I’m living my best life while you’re stuck being boring.”
I stopped with my hand on the car door.
“You know what’s funny about karma, Lauren? It doesn’t always wait. Sometimes it shows up right away when someone deserves it.”
“What does that mean?” she snapped.
I smiled as I got into my car.
“You’ll see in about ninety-six hours. Give or take.”
In my rearview mirror, I saw Dad frantically making calls while Mom hugged Lauren, who was crying. They looked just like that perfect family photo on their wall. Mom and Dad on either side of their favorite daughter.
The photo I paid for last Christmas.
Just like I paid for everything else.
Not anymore.
I pulled over a couple blocks away, my hands still shaking, and called someone else.
“Scott, it’s me. Remember when you told me to stop helping them? Well, I finally did something big.”
He picked up right away.
“About time. Want to grab a drink and tell me everything?”
I looked back toward my parents’ house. Lauren’s shiny red car still sat in the driveway, glowing in the sunset.
“Yes,” I said. “And bring your laptop. We’re going to need it.”
As I drove away, the sun dipped behind me. I was done being their backup plan. Let Lauren enjoy her little kingdom made of credit. It was about to fall.
They say revenge is best served cold.
I was just getting started.
“Four days,” Scott said, sliding his laptop across the bar. “That’s how long the system takes to fully close the accounts and start the chain reaction.”
I stared into my gin and tonic, the ice clinking softly.
“They’ve called twenty-five times since yesterday,” I said. “I stopped counting the texts.”
“Let me see.”
Scott scrolled through my phone and read one aloud.
“Jacqueline, please call us right away. It’s an emergency. Your sister is crying herself sick. We raised you better than this.”
He snorted.
“That’s rich.”
“Did they really raise me better?” I asked, taking another sip. “You know what I remember from growing up? Making Lauren’s lunch while Mom was in bed. Helping Dad with the checkbook when I was fourteen because he couldn’t figure out why the account was always empty. Being told I couldn’t go to the college I wanted because Lauren needed braces.”
Scott’s fingers moved quickly over the keyboard.
“And now they took your house down payment.”
He frowned at the screen.
