“Sky mostly sleeps.”
“She is nine months old.”
“Exactly. Babies sleep constantly.”
Riley rubbed her forehead.
“Are you listening to yourself?”
“Don’t be dramatic.”
“I’m not babysitting three children for four days while trying to finish a client launch.”
“You could work at night.”
“No.”
“You’re your own boss.”
“No.”
“Family matters.”
“My business pays my rent.”
Linda’s voice cooled.
“Nobody said it didn’t.”
“You’re acting like I can stop working for four days because Jason wants a vacation.”
“Your brother works very hard.”
“So do I.”
“I know, sweetheart.”
The tone said the opposite.
Riley felt something tighten.
“No.”
Silence.
Linda tried again.
“Just think about it.”
“I already did.”
“You always say no at first.”
The sentence stopped Riley.
“What?”
Linda hesitated.
“I mean you get overwhelmed.”
“No. What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
“You said I always say no at first.”
“You do.”
“And then?”
“You help.”
Riley slowly leaned back.
For years, she had interpreted her eventual agreement as generosity.
Linda interpreted it differently.
Linda heard the first no as negotiation.
The last yes as proof that the no had never mattered.
“Mom, listen carefully.”
“Riley—”
“I am not babysitting December twenty-third through the twenty-sixth.”
“You don’t have to decide today.”
“I just decided.”
“You’ll feel differently.”
“No.”
“Fine.”
That word.
Riley knew Linda well enough to understand that “fine” rarely described acceptance.
It described postponement.
Nine days later, the Bennett family gathered for dinner at Linda and her husband Peter’s house.
Jason and Stephanie came with the children.
Aunt Carol attended.
Two cousins were there.
Everything seemed ordinary.
Riley arrived late because of work.
Linda made a point of mentioning it.
“So nice of you to join us.”
Riley ignored the jab.
Dinner began.
Peter carved roast chicken.
Emma talked about her school Christmas concert.
Oliver dropped peas onto the floor for reasons known only to Oliver.
Sky fell asleep against Stephanie.
Then, halfway through dinner, Linda tapped her fork against her wineglass.
Riley looked up.
Linda smiled.
“I just want to say how excited I am that Jason and Stephanie finally get some time away together.”
Stephanie smiled.
Jason raised his beer.
Linda continued.
“They’re going up to the mountains after Christmas.”
Riley felt her stomach tighten.
“Mom.”
Linda looked at her.
“And thankfully Riley volunteered to keep the kids, so everything is handled.”
The room went silent.
Riley stared at her mother.
Linda smiled brightly.
A warning disguised as warmth.
Riley heard the old instinct.
Do not embarrass her.
Do not make dinner uncomfortable.
Do not create a scene.
For years, that instinct would have won.
Not tonight.