Chapter 16 - OLIVIA’S COUNTERSTORYOlivia said I had spent years portraying her as financially incompetent.
There was truth inside the exaggeration.
I had rolled my eyes at her business.
Questioned expenses.
Once told Ben:
“Mom will fund Olivia until one of them dies.”
Cruel.
Private.
Ben repeated a softer version to Diane during an argument months earlier.
I did not know.
Olivia found out.
She came to the housewarming already believing I was trying to turn Diane against her.
The staged theft was supposed to prove something.
What?
“Megan thinks she’s better than everyone, but she’ll show who she is when money is involved.”
That was Olivia’s explanation months later.
She expected me to become defensive.
Expected guests to search.
Expected Diane to support her.
Then, after maybe ten minutes, Olivia planned to “find” the envelope in a place suggesting confusion rather than theft.
She said she never intended police.
Never intended the accusation to survive the evening.
I stared at her during mediation.
“You accused me of stealing ten thousand dollars.”
“I know.”
“In my house.”
“I know.”
“In front of my husband, daughter, neighbors, coworkers.”
“I know.”
“What did you think would happen?”
She whispered:
“I thought Mom would make you apologize.”
May you like
For what?
That question exposed our family more than the answer.
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