Chapter 4 - The Price of Keeping Everybody Comfortable
Louise was folding laundry when David entered the living room.
He waited until she finished placing a towel into the basket.
"Mom, we need to talk about the girls."
Louise sighed.
"Are we still doing this?"
"Yes."
"I thought the scholarship people were sending another letter."
"They are."
"Then what's left to discuss?"
David sat opposite her.
"The way we treat Nia."
Louise's expression hardened.
"I love that child."
"I know."
"I've helped raise her."
"I know that too."
"Then don't come into my house acting like I've mistreated her."
David looked around the room.
His mother had moved in after his wife died.
She had cooked dinners when he worked late, attended school concerts, and helped the girls through years when the family barely knew how to function.
He was grateful for every part of that.
But gratitude did not require silence.
"You've done a lot for us," he said. "And I appreciate it. But you've also made excuses for Simone at Nia's expense."
Louise folded another towel.
"Simone has been through enough disappointment."
"So has Nia."
"She's strong. She can handle a little teasing."
"Mom, that wasn't teasing."
Louise stopped folding.
David continued.
"When someone destroys something important to Nia, and you tell her she's overreacting, what do you think she learns?"
Louise didn't answer.
"She learns that her feelings matter less than keeping Simone comfortable."
"That's not fair."
"Then tell me what was fair about yesterday."
Louise looked toward the window.
For several seconds, the only sound was the washing machine in the laundry room.
Finally, she said, "I didn't want another fight."
David nodded.
"I believe you."
He leaned forward.
"But you can't keep avoiding fights by asking the person who was hurt to be quiet."
Upstairs, Nia was preparing for the scholarship reception.
She had spread two dresses across her bed.
One was dark blue.
The other was a simple green dress she had worn to her final interview.
She preferred the green one.
It made her feel confident.
But she had barely been able to think about the reception since Simone destroyed the letter.
She heard footsteps outside her room.
Simone appeared in the doorway.
"Can I come in?"
Nia hesitated.
"Why?"
"I wanted to talk."
Nia moved the dresses aside.
Simone sat on the edge of the bed.
For a moment, she studied the green dress.
"You're wearing that?"
"Probably."
"It looks nice."
Nia waited.
Simone clasped her hands together.
"Look, I'm sorry you got upset yesterday."
Nia stared at her.
"That's your apology?"
"What else do you want me to say?"
"That you were wrong."
Simone's face tightened.
"I said I'm sorry."
"You said you're sorry I got upset. That's different."
Simone stood.
"Forget it."
Nia's eyes filled, but she did not follow.
She had spent years chasing her older sister's approval.
This time, she stayed seated.
Downstairs, Louise was making a different argument.
"Simone should be allowed to attend the scholarship reception," she told David. "Keeping her away will only make things worse."
David considered her words.
"It's Nia's event."
"And Simone is family."
"That doesn't mean Nia has to pretend nothing happened."
Louise shook her head.
"If Simone isn't invited, I'm not going either."
The threat struck David harder than she realized.
Nia loved her grandmother.
She wanted Louise to be proud of her.
But David understood what his mother was asking.
If Nia wanted her grandmother's presence, she would have to accept Simone's behavior without real accountability.
He wasn't willing to make that bargain.
"Then you can stay home," he said quietly.
Louise stared at him.
"You'd really choose this argument over your own mother?"
"I'm choosing to let Nia have one day that belongs to her."
Louise turned away.
That evening, David found Nia standing beside the refrigerator.
The reception invitation was attached to the door with a small magnet.
She was looking at the names of the scholarship recipients.
"Grandma said she isn't coming," Nia whispered.
David nodded.
"I'm sorry."
"She thinks I'm trying to punish Simone."
"Are you?"
Nia thought about it.
"No. I just don't want to spend the whole day worrying about what Simone might do."
David rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Then you shouldn't have to."
Nia looked at the invitation.
"Can it just be you and me?"
"Absolutely."
She nodded.
Then she pulled the invitation from the refrigerator and placed it inside her blue folder.
David watched her walk upstairs.
She had finally stopped asking permission to protect her own happiness.
May you like
But he knew the decision had cost her something.
And he wasn't sure whether Louise or Simone understood that yet.
