Disinherited, Not Defeated

small house, a smell I knew too well beca

ksgi

most dreaded d

rly forties, had paid for most of the groceries

e for this, a rare treat. Our teenage son, Ben, a hi

ng, partly because for over twenty years, I' d been t

h a traditional, manipulative fist, her favoritism for her sons,

s felt entitled to my help, his wife Jessica nodding along. Th

her, always had a new get-rich-quick scheme, his

ering resentment in his eyes whenever

laden, my wo

ead of the table, a quee

ice unnaturally sweet, "I have somethi

ell. Thi

stured around, "will go to John, my

ca preening beside him. He' d ne

left, about $50,000, that will go to Michael, t

y squeezed his arm, her eyes gleaming. His "investmen

ill go to my dear grandson, Mark. A g

ed. Emily smiled politely, a newc

reached for

hters-in-law, and my ne

Tiffany with a pearl necklace, and Emily wit

cooed app

ital soap and cleaning solu

a small, tight squeeze. Ben looked from me to h

ks for the decades of care, the money I

d brightly, her g

ion, "since you're so good at caring for people, so patient, I've

t, except for the

ohn has the house, and Michael needs to focus

sense, Mom. Sarah'

you're perfect for it. We know

d been nursing it, trying to n

care for our dying father while John and Michael did almost nothing, the consta

red, and how I held his hand,

ng for people,"

sh and loud,

e table. Red wine splashed onto th

r scraping loudly a

the edge of

I screamed, the sound

I pu

en bean casserole, the gravy boat, the cranberry sauc

d against the wall, against Brenda' s horrifi

You ungrateful, wicked

e hell is wrong with you

alm down, sis. It' s just a little misunderstanding." His

my voice raw. "I' ve supported you a

h rage, stepped forward and sl

was instan

snappe

, just to get her off me. She st

Mom!" Joh

ain shooting up to my shoulder. Michael shoved me hard against t

swam for

blood in my mouth where I' d

my voice cracking. "I'

ar the door and stormed out, leaving them amid