They listen as she and Billy go back and forth about work. When she says she’ll falsely accuse Billy of sexual harassment, my father flinches. When it gets to the part about me and Christmas, I hold my breath as I listen to her words again.
“Ha! My poor sister? She’s been nothing but a pain in the ass since the second she was born. Did I ever tell you I tried to kill her? More than once.” She laughs.
I look over to my mom, but her eyes are closed. If she could close off her ears with only a thought, I suspect she would.
“Things were perfect when it was just me. For three years, I had all their love. Then that ugly, fat thing came along and I had to share. Everything!”
“That’s enough!” my mom shouts. Glaring at me, she snaps, “You must have antagonized her.”
“Pamela. That’s enough,” Dad says.
“No, it’s—”
“Yes. That’s enough. You’ve been protecting that girl from the second she started behaving badly. Enough or you’re going to lose both of your daughters.” Dad stops talking and swallows. “And me.”
“What?” She looks up at my Dad. “You don’t mean that.”
“I do. I mean it. I’ve turned the other cheek for twenty-four years, and I’m not doing it anymore.”
“But, Gisele—”
“Needs help.” My dad says it softly, but we all hear it. “She needs help, Pamela. She has for a long time. This video only reinforces what we’ve known for many years.”
Whoa. I’m speechless. I didn’t see this coming at all. But if what my dad is saying is true, it makes sense they’d automatically believe her. It was easier than facing the fact that my sister has psychological problems. I knew it, but I never labeled it like that.
I turn to Billy and look at his face. I wonder if he suspected anything. When he shakes his head just enough for me to see, I have my answer.
“So, what happens now?” my dad asks Rory.
He looks over at Billy. “Are you pressing charges?”
My mom whimpers.
“I think I should say,” Rory continues, “if you don’t, she’ll walk out of here and there won’t be a way to court order her into a facility if you feel she needs psychological help.”
“My God. This can’t be happening.” Mom sobs loudly.
“I’ll sign whatever you need. JoJo received the brunt of her anger earlier.” Billy nods to me.
“She did that to you?” Rory looks shocked.
My dad answers this time. “In our kitchen.” He steps closer to me. “She had to go to urgent care afterward.”
Rory’s face is stony. “We’ll need to write up a second complaint.”
We’re at the police station for another hour or more. When we’re done, my parents leave first, followed by Billy and me. When we reach our car, Dad is helping Mom into the passenger seat. “Will you be over in the morning?”
I turn to face him. “Do you think that’s wise?”
“I don’t know anything anymore other than if we don’t make an attempt at normalcy, this will always be the Christmas Gisele went away.”
“I’ll come, but I’m bringing Billy with me.” I look up at him and hope he’s on board.
He nods and smiles down at me.
“That’s fine.” Dad sounds so defeated. “See you at ten?”
“Ten sounds good.” Billy pulls my hand, but I stop. “I love you, Dad.” I can’t bring myself to say it to my mom, even though I do love her. How can I not? She did what she could to protect her daughter. Sure, it was at the expense of her other one, but nobody’s perfect.
