“Wait a minute,” Jackie interrupts. “So they get legitimate apologies, and I get reprimanded? Is that what I’m hearing?”
“Ann pointed out—
“Ann? What does she have to do withourfamily?” Jackie cuts Dad off.
I hide a wince at the crestfallen look on our stepmom’s face.
“She’s your stepmom, and you’ll treat her with the respect that deserves,” Mom says.
“Wait, seriously?” Fran says. “I thought you didn’t like Ann because Dad cheated on you with her.”
Ann gasps and clutches her chest. “I didn’t.”
Now all of us girls are staring in disbelief. “But, Mom...”
Dad glares at Mom.
“I didn’t dispute their assumptions.” She looks chagrined.
“Even though they’re false?” Dad asks.
“I was angry about the divorce.” She shrugs, and it’s like seeing the OG version of Jackie.
Yikes.
“So you didn’t cheat?” Jackie asks.
“No, I didn’t.”
“We’re sorry,” Fran, Jackie, and I apologize simultaneously. We’ve always been cordial to Ann, but we definitely could be a lot nicer to her. Guess that’s another blinder I have to remove.
“Fran, we just want you to know you have our support.”
She sniffles and lets out a watery “thank you.”
“I can’t believe this.” Jackie grabs her jacket and leaves the room without another word.
Though Jackie leaves, Dad suggests we have dinner anyway. It’s awkward the whole time, but I make an effort to draw Ann into the conversation, as does Fran. After good-bye hugs, Fran motions for us to leave. As soon as we get into the car, I turn to her.
“So how do you feel about everything?”
“Glad that they had a change a heart, but I can’t help but get stuck on how Jackie tried to hijack the conversation and how your apology was just a Band-Aid. ‘Sorry we overlooked you but moving on to the next child.’” Fran shakes her head. “I’m sorry for being such a problem child that our folks couldn’t love you like you deserve.”
Though I appreciate her apology, it’s totally unnecessary. I say so and add, “I’m truly okay. It’s enough they recognized the problem. Now I’m curious to see how that’ll change our interactions. Will they seek me out more or continue the status quo?”
Fran sighs. “I suppose there’s that.”
“Do you think Jackie will ever change?” I ask.
“Who knows. Do you know what’s going on with her and Isaac?”
“Just that Jackie agreed to go to counseling. Not sure if she really meant it for herself or just to get an A for effort.”
Fran snorts. “Definitely the A for effort. But I’ll pray it actually changes her. A lifetime of having everyone in the family bow down to you will be tough to transform overnight or in one week.”
So true.
Once home, Fran says good-night and heads to her room. As for me, the only person I want to talk to right now is Jabari. I quickly change into my pajamas, then call him. I lean against my throw pillows as the phone rings.
