Chapter 9 - The Card in My Name
The bank froze the account and transferred me to fraud.
Charges included jewelry, furniture, travel deposits, and cruise upgrades.
Rachel told me to file a police report.
I did.
That night Jessica arrived at my house looking terrified.
“You called the police on Mom?”
“I reported identity theft.”
“She could be arrested.”
“Yes.”
Jessica sat down hard.
Then she whispered, “I think she did it to me too.”
She had found two accounts she didn’t recognize. More than twenty thousand dollars. Both mailed to Mom’s address.
For the first time, Jessica and I were not standing on opposite sides.
“What did Mom say?” I asked.
“I haven’t told her.”
“Why?”
Jessica laughed bitterly. “Because I’m afraid she’ll explain it until I feel guilty for being mad.”
That sounded painfully familiar.
Jessica stared at the floor.
“I thought they gave me more because they loved me more.”
I said nothing.
“Now I think they gave me more because it kept me close enough to control.”
She looked up.
“I’m sorry about Emma.”
“Did you know she was excluded?”
“Yes.”
“Did you help plan the ‘we ran out’ lie?”
Her eyes filled.
“Yes.”
I looked away.
Then she said, “But Mom didn’t exclude Emma because she thought Emma was difficult.”
I turned back.
“Why, then?”
Jessica swallowed.
“Because you embarrassed Mom at Thanksgiving when you told her not to shame Emma over dessert.”
My stomach went cold.
“She used Disney to punish me?”
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“And Emma,” Jessica whispered. “Mom said you needed to learn that challenging her had consequences.”
That was the moment I knew there could be no quick forgiveness.
