“I didn’t volunteer.”
Jason lowered his beer.
“What?”
Linda laughed.
“Riley.”
“I said no.”
Stephanie looked from Riley to Linda.
Confusion crossed her face.
Linda’s smile tightened.
“This is not the time.”
“You made it the time.”
“Don’t do this.”
“I told you no twice.”
Jason frowned.
“Wait.”
He looked toward Linda.
“You said she already agreed.”
Linda glanced at him.
“She practically did.”
Riley almost laughed.
“What does that mean?”
“You said you would think about it.”
“No.”
“I said no.”
“Clearly.”
“Twice.”
Aunt Carol lowered her fork.
Stephanie looked uncomfortable.
“We already booked the cabin.”
Riley turned toward her.
“I’m sorry.”
Stephanie shook her head.
“No, I’m not blaming you.”
Linda interrupted.
“The cabin is nonrefundable.”
Riley looked at her mother.
“Then you probably should not have booked childcare that did not exist.”
Linda’s face hardened.
“You’re really going to ruin their Christmas?”
“No.”
Riley’s voice remained quiet.
“I’m refusing to spend mine doing something I already told you I wouldn’t do.”
Jason looked angry now, but Riley could not tell at whom.
“Mom said it was handled.”
“Then Mom should handle it.”
Linda stared.
“You know your father and I can’t watch three children for four days.”
Peter looked up.
Nobody had actually asked him.
Riley noticed.
Of course.
Linda volunteered other people.
Rarely herself.
“Then Jason and Stephanie need another sitter.”
“Three days before Christmas?”
“Nine days.”
Linda blinked.
“What?”
“I told you no nine days ago.”
The table went silent again.
Riley stood.
“I want everyone to hear this so nobody can say there was confusion.”
Linda’s eyes narrowed.
Riley looked at Jason and Stephanie.
“I will not be babysitting December twenty-third through the twenty-sixth.”
Stephanie nodded immediately.
“Okay.”
Jason looked frustrated but nodded too.
Riley continued.
“I will not be available.”
Linda crossed her arms.
“Where are you going?”
Riley had not planned anything yet.
But something inside her changed.
“I’ll let you know.”
She picked up her coat.
Peter finally spoke.
“Riley.”
She looked at him.
He appeared torn between wife and daughter.
That was another family pattern.
Peter disliked conflict enough to let Linda win most of it.
“Do you need to leave?”
“Yes.”
Linda laughed bitterly.
“Of course she does.”
Riley put on her coat.
Then she looked at her mother.
“You didn’t misunderstand me.”