PART 7
The police contacted Vanessa.
That changed her tone.
Suddenly, she was apologetic.
She sent me a long message.
I’m sorry you misunderstood what happened.
I would never intentionally hurt Mia.
I was upset and moved the skillet too quickly.
I know it looked bad.
I hope we can handle this privately like sisters.
I stared at the screen.
Then I forwarded it to the officer.
I did not reply.
My father came to my apartment that evening.
I almost did not let him in.
Then I saw he was alone.
So I opened the door.
He looked older than he had two days earlier.
“Can I come in?”
“Mia’s sleeping.”
“I’ll be quiet.”
I let him enter.
He sat at the kitchen table.
For a minute, neither of us spoke.
Then he said.
“I should have stopped it.”
I crossed my arms.
“Yes.”
“I froze.”
“Yes.”
“I’m not proud of that.”
I looked at him.
“You’ve been freezing for thirty years.”
His face changed.
“That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it?”
He looked away.
I continued.
“Mom always takes Vanessa’s side.”
“You stay quiet.”
“Then I’m told to keep the peace.”
“Again.”
“And again.”
“And again.”
Dad rubbed his hands.
“Your mother has always been protective of Vanessa.”
“Why?”
He sighed.
“When Vanessa was little, she struggled.”
“With what?”
“Everything.”
“School.”
“Friends.”
“Confidence.”
“You were easier.”
I stared at him.
“So because I was easier, I got less?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“You just said it differently.”
Dad looked ashamed.
“Your mother worried Vanessa would feel overshadowed.”
“By me?”
“Yes.”
“And now she worries Sophie will feel overshadowed by Mia?”
He said nothing.
I leaned closer.
“Dad, Sophie is not being overshadowed.”
“Vanessa just cannot tolerate Mia getting the same attention.”
He nodded slowly.
“I know.”
That surprised me.
“You know?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything?”
He looked at the table.
“Because every time I challenged your mother about Vanessa, we fought for days.”
I stared at him.
“So you chose peace.”
He nodded.
“For yourself.”
His eyes lifted.
“What?”
“You chose peace for yourself.”
“You did not create peace.”
“You transferred the conflict to me.”
He went very still.
I continued.
“You stayed comfortable.”
“I learned to swallow things.”
“Now Mia is being asked to swallow them too.”
“I won’t allow it.”
Dad’s eyes filled.
“I’m sorry.”
I believed he meant it.
But I was no longer impressed by apologies without action.
I said.
“What are you going to do?”
He looked confused.
“About what?”
“About Mom.”
“About Vanessa.”
“About Sunday dinners.”
“About the way they treat Mia.”
He opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
I nodded.
“That’s what I thought.”
He left twenty minutes later.
