Chapter 7 - LINDA'S FAVORITISM HAD A PRICE TAG
Claire met Linda alone.
Public cafe.
Linda cried before sitting down.
Claire did not.
Linda said:
“I know it looked bad.”
“It was bad.”
“You and Madison need different things.”
There.
The family philosophy.
Claire asked:
“What do I need?”
Linda smiled weakly.
“You’re independent.”
“That’s not a need.”
“You know what I mean.”
Claire did.
Independent children become easier to neglect because they survive it.
Then Claire asked:
“How much have you given Madison this year?”
Linda looked away.
“Not much.”
Rachel had totals.
$14,700.
From:
household transfers,
cash,
shopping,
travel,
subscriptions.
Claire said the number.
Linda went pale.
“That includes gifts.”
“It includes money I paid into the house.”
Linda snapped:
“You were not forced.”
Claire paused.
True.
Important.
No one put a gun to her head.
They used:
guilt,
expectation,
family roles,
partial information.
But Claire had said yes.
Again and again.
She had to own that part.
Then Linda said:
“You always liked being the responsible one.”
Claire looked at her.
That was cruel.
And partly true.
Responsibility gave Claire identity.
Control.
Moral superiority.
If Madison was chaos, Claire was the good daughter.
If Robert struggled, Claire rescued.
If Linda cried, Claire fixed.
The family exploited that.
May you like
Claire also participated in it.
That realization hurt differently.
