Page 111 of Ruby Mercy

“Oh.” Now, Pat looks confused. “I assumed—Well, things can get tense at the end of life. Your father and I talked about it a lot and we wanted you and Yuliana to be treated just like everyone else. I assumed this was in regards to that.”

Dad tries to discreetly nudge Pat’s chair, but he does it a bit too hard. Her chair scoots an inch to her left and she yelps in surprise.

My chest tightens. “I didn’t realize there was a question of whether Yuliana and I would be treated like everyone else.”

Pat seems to realize what she said. Her eyes widen. “There wasn’t! Good gravy, no. No. Of course you and Yuliana are important. You’re special. You’re both—”

“Family is family,” Dad interrupts. “Nothing can change that.”

I want to let the conversation go, but every word is more bizarre than the last. “What would change that we’re family?”

“Nothing. That’s what I just said.”

“I know, but,” I shake my head, “the fact you felt you needed to say that means there was something that could have changed how you’d feel about me. Is it Mom?”

Pat has gone pale. She stares straight down into her lap and Dad is clutching his coffee cup so tightly I’m waiting for the paper to crush in his hand.

“It’s not your mom.”

My stomach is twisting and turning like it’s physically being rung out. I couldn’t eat the flaky croissant in front of me even if I wanted to. I slide the plate away from me.

“I know what Mom did hurt you, but I was a little kid. I had nothing to do with it.” Tears well in my eyes, and I hate my tendency to cry when I’m frustrated. I swipe them away quickly before they can fall. “I didn’t even know what happened until five years ago when Lana and Alexis finally told me. So I don’t know why you keep taking your anger out on—”

“I’m not angry,” he snaps, his tone in direct defiance to his words. “I’m not angry with you, Rayne.”

“Then I don’t understand.”

“There’s nothing to understand. Like Pat said, the will is taken care of. Everyone is getting a fair share. You should be happy.”

I huff out a laugh in sheer disbelief. “Yes, I’m thrilled you’re dying. I’m only here to make sure I get a good cut of your money.”

“No one is saying that’s how you feel,” Pat cuts in.

At the same time, my dad throws up his hands. “Well, what else could we be here for?”

“God, is that really what you think of me?” I swipe at my eyes yet again. “I came to visit you because I wanted to… I don’t know, support you! I wanted to be here for you and be with my sisters.”

“And you did that,” he says. “What’s the problem?”

“It’s the same problem we’ve always had, Dad. You love Lana and Alexis more than me.”

He freezes. His expression is incredulous, but he’s frozen like he isn’t sure what to say.

Denial would be a start.No, no, no, honey. Of course I don’t love them more than you! That’s ridiculous.

Instead, my dad stares at me for what feels like minutes. Finally, Pat clears her throat. “That’s not true, Rayne. Believe me. Your dad loves all of his children the same.”

“Of course I do.” He adjusts his chair and shifts around nervously. His hands wrap around his cup again and then he throws an arm over the back of his chair. I’ve never seen him fidget so much.

“You stayed around to raise Lana and Alexis,” I say softly.

His head snaps up. “That’s not fair.”

“You’re right. It wasn’t fair. Not to me, at least. I didn’t have a choice; you did.”

“You don’t understand what you’re saying.” I’ve never heard his voice so tight and strained.

“What I don’t understand is how you could abandon your kid,” I snap. “I didn’t understand it when I was little, but now that I have a child of my own? Abandoning Yuliana is unfathomable to me.”

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