My 8-year-old granddaughter rolled her eyes and said, “You can’t sit with us. Mom said, ‘You’re an old burden.’”
The table burst out laughing, including my son. I stood up and left quietly.
That night, he texted, “Payment still due tomorrow?”
I answered, “Figure it out.”
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Let me tell you how a grandmother’s broken heart became a family’s worst nightmare. It started at Jessica’s birthday party. Though honestly, I should have seen it coming months ago.
You know how they say hindsight is 20/20? Well, mine turned out to be laser focused. I’m Margaret Sullivan, but everyone calls me Maggie, 67 years old, retired elementary school teacher, and apparently the family ATM according to my own son.
Three years ago when my husband Frank died, I thought my biggest worry would be loneliness. Turns out it was my own family treating me like their personal bank with a beating heart attached. The party was at some fancy restaurant downtown.
Jessica had insisted on celebrating her 42nd birthday there, despite the fact that my monthly contribution to their mortgage was what made such luxuries possible. But did anyone mention that? Of course not.
I arrived precisely at six, wearing my best navy dress and the pearl necklace Frank gave me on our 25th anniversary. Call me old-fashioned, but I still believe in making an effort for family occasions. The hostess led me through the crowded restaurant to a large round table where David, my son, sat with his wife, Jessica, and their two kids.
“Mom.” David stood up, giving me one of those quick obligatory hugs. “You made it.”
“Of course I made it. It’s Jessica’s birthday.” I smiled at my daughter-in-law, who managed a tight smile in return.
Jessica had never quite warmed to me, even after 15 years of marriage to my son. According to her, I was too involved, too opinionated, too much of everything. My granddaughter Khloe was picking at her chicken nuggets while my grandson Tyler played on his phone, completely oblivious to the adults around him.
Normal family dinner behavior, nothing unusual there. The trouble started when Jessica’s sister Karen arrived with her husband and twin daughters. The girls, both around Khloe’s age, immediately commandeered the conversation with stories about their recent vacation to Disney World.
