Jack barked, “Tell me the truth, Linda! Now!”
Linda’s laugh broke sharply.
“What did you think I was gonna do? Live broke? Have kids with that boring ex-husband who makes peanuts? Please.”
Jack’s voice cracked. “So, who, Linda? Who’s his father?”
Linda shot me a look sharp as a blade, then turned back to Jack.
“Your precious brother. Rick. The golden boy.” She spat out his name. “Yeah, Tommy’s his. He was my safety net when I got bored at home. But guess what? He never wanted me. He just wanted me to shut up.”
“What?”
Linda laughed — too loud, too thin.
“He pays me. Every month. So I keep my mouth shut. So his wife doesn’t find out. He buys me whatever I want — clothes, trips, new nails. I get more from his guilt than I ever did from any husband.”
Jack’s face twisted. “But you were married!”
“Ha!” She barked a laugh. “I get bored. I like fun. He couldn’t handle it, so he left. But guess what — he still pays. All of them do. And you…”
Linda jabbed her finger at my husband.
“You were just a bonus, Jack. Extra spending money.”
Jack clenched his fists.
“You used me. You used everyone.”
Linda bared her teeth. “So what? You think you’re special? You’re not even the favorite son in your own family.”
I stood up. “Looks like you picked the wrong sister after all, Jack.”
Then, I turned to the hallway. Cindy and Tommy peeked out, blinking. I crouched down, smiling.
“Come on, sweethearts. Grab your coats. We’re going out for ice cream.”
Tommy tugged my sleeve. “But Mom…”
I pressed my finger to his lips. “Mom needs to shout at Uncle Jack for a while. Let’s leave them to it.”
Linda’s shrieking rose behind me. Jack’s voice cracked like glass. The house that smelled like fresh paint was rotting from the inside out.
Outside, the sun was warm on my face. Two small hands found mine.
Sister’s biggest lie. My sweetest revenge. I squeezed the kid’s fingers.
“Chocolate or strawberry?”
“Both!”
Good. I wanted sweet that day.
