Chapter 13 - CLARA WAS NEVER THE FAVORITE
Christmas video showed Clara standing beside the tree when Sophronia slapped Aurelia.
She looked horrified.
Then after I slapped Sophronia, Clara began crying.
I had apologized for that already.
Still, I had not understood what came before.
Martin told me Clara had started saying:
“I don’t want Grandpa stuff.”
Why?
“Because Mom says it starts fights.”
That hurt.
Dad’s jewelry box sat unopened in Martin’s hall closet.
Clara was afraid using it meant choosing sides.
I asked if Aurelia could call her.
Martin checked with Clara.
Yes.
The girls spoke on video.
Aurelia showed the horse.
Clara showed nothing at first.
Then slowly brought the jewelry box into frame.
“Grandpa made stars inside mine too.”
Aurelia leaned toward the screen.
“Same stars!”
Dad had carved the same tiny five-point stars under the jewelry-box lid.
Clara smiled.
For the first time, the two gifts looked like what they were.
Two handmade objects.
Not a ranking system.
Then Clara said:
“My mom says your horse had secret key.”
Aurelia nodded.
“Not anymore.”
Correct.
The key remained with the neutral administrator after cabinet opening.
Then:
“Did Grandpa hide key because I’m not important?”
My chest tightened.
Before I could intervene, Aurelia said:
“No. Horse had hole.”
Children.
Beautifully practical.
Then Clara asked:
“Can I ride horse?”
Aurelia thought.
“Yes, but not fast.”
No estate attorney required.
That conversation changed how I spoke afterward.
I stopped calling Clara “the favored one” even privately.
Sophronia favored her in arguments.
Clara herself had never asked for the role.
May you like
The girls were cousins.
That was enough.
