Chapter 6 - The First Person Vivian Couldn't Order Around
Vivian had always been the loudest person in family disagreements.
Ruth rarely competed.
That had allowed everyone to confuse quietness with surrender.
“You took fifteen thousand dollars,” Ruth said.
“I borrowed it.”
“Borrowing involves permission.”
“I was protecting my business.”
“With my money.”
“I was going to repay it.”
“When?”
“April.”
“You told me it was in savings.”
Vivian glanced toward Claire.
“This conversation doesn’t need an audience.”
Claire stood.
“I’ll go.”
Ruth lifted one hand.
“No.”
Vivian stared at her mother.
Ruth lowered herself carefully into the recliner.
“Claire spent four months taking care of me.”
“She was living here free.”
Ruth’s face changed.
“So that makes her your employee?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You told the family she was being paid.”
Vivian crossed her arms.
“I told them you were setting money aside.”
“You told Megan three thousand a month.”
Vivian said nothing.
Ruth continued.
“You let people think Claire was taking money from me while you were taking it yourself.”
“That’s not fair.”
Claire almost laughed.
Ruth did not.
“No,” she said. “It wasn’t.”
Vivian’s composure slipped.
“My business has six employees.”
Claire had not known that.
“Three projects delayed payment at the same time. Payroll was due. I needed thirty days.”
“You’ve had the money for months.”
“Because the receivables are still behind.”
“Then your business has a bigger problem than fifteen thousand dollars.”
Vivian looked wounded.
“You know what Dad taught us. You don’t miss payroll.”
Ruth stared at her daughter.
“Your father also taught you not to take somebody else’s money.”
Vivian looked away.
There it was.
Not greed alone.
Fear.
Vivian’s company was failing.
The expensive jewelry, ivory blouses, immaculate showroom, and constant talk about clients had covered something much less glamorous.
Cash-flow trouble.
That explained the theft.
It did not explain the cruelty.
Claire asked the question.
“Why humiliate me?”
Vivian turned.
“What?”
“At dinner.”
“I was irritated.”
“You pulled my chair away.”
“You’re being dramatic.”
“You put dirty plates in my hands in front of twelve people.”
Vivian’s jaw tightened.
Claire continued.
“You knew I wasn’t being paid.”
“Yes.”
“You knew everyone else thought I was.”
Silence.
Claire stepped closer.
“So why did you do it?”
Vivian looked at her for a long moment.
Then said:
“Because you enjoy being the good one.”
Claire blinked.
Vivian laughed bitterly.
“Sweet Claire drives Mom to therapy. Sweet Claire makes soup. Sweet Claire sleeps downstairs when Mom’s hurting.”
Ruth stared at her.
Vivian’s voice sharpened.
“And everybody forgets who handled this family for twenty years.”
Claire finally understood.
The money explained what Vivian had done.
Jealousy explained why she wanted Claire degraded while doing it.
May you like
Vivian had not merely stolen the value of Claire’s work.
She resented Claire for receiving love because of it.
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