She smiled slightly.
“I changed them because you kept treating my ‘no’ like something you could unlock.”
Jason looked toward Linda.
Stephanie stopped bouncing Sky.
Even Emma looked between the adults.
Linda’s face turned red.
“You cannot just leave us standing here.”
“I didn’t bring you there.”
“You knew they needed childcare.”
“I told them I wasn’t childcare.”
“We have reservations.”
“Then go.”
Linda almost shouted.
“With the children?”
Riley paused.
“They are Jason and Stephanie’s children.”
Jason flinched.
Not because the statement was cruel.
Because it was obvious.
Stephanie suddenly turned toward Linda.
“You told us Riley volunteered.”
Linda’s jaw tightened.
“She was going to.”
“No.”
Stephanie’s voice became sharper.
“You told me she called you back and said yes.”
Riley went completely still.
This was new.
Jason looked at his mother.
“You said she agreed after dinner.”
Linda glanced toward the camera.
Riley understood.
This was not merely Linda assuming Riley would give in.
Linda had lied directly.
She had invented an agreement.
“I never called her,” Riley said.
Stephanie looked toward the camera.
“I know.”
Linda interrupted.
“Stephanie, do not start.”
Stephanie stared.
“Do not start?”
She adjusted Sky against her chest.
“I asked you three times because I felt bad dumping three kids on Riley over Christmas.”
“You said Riley wanted to help.”
“I said she always helps.”
“That is not the same thing.”
Jason opened the family message.
“Here.”
He turned the screen toward Linda.
Riley’s text.
I will NOT be babysitting. I will NOT be home.
Linda barely looked.
“She was being dramatic.”
Jason’s face changed.
That sentence did something.
Riley saw it.
For years Jason had benefited from their mother’s manipulation without recognizing it.
Now he was watching the mechanism operate in real time.
“She said no.”
Linda crossed her arms.
“She says no to everything.”
Riley’s stomach turned.
There it was.
The philosophy underneath years of behavior.
Jason whispered:
“Mom.”
“What?”
“She said no.”
“And?”
Stephanie stared at Linda.
“And that means no.”
Linda laughed bitterly.
“Oh, please. You two were desperate for time alone.”
Stephanie stepped back as though physically struck.
“We were.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“You would be complaining if I hadn’t handled it.”
“No.”
Linda pointed toward the apartment.
“This is exactly why families fall apart now. Everybody thinks boundaries are more important than helping one another.”
Riley spoke through the camera.
“Boundaries are how helping stays voluntary.”
Linda’s eyes moved toward the camera.
“Do not lecture me from a resort.”
“I paid for this resort.”
“With money you could apparently spend while your brother struggles.”
Riley laughed in disbelief.
“My vacation budget is not Jason’s childcare budget.”