Chapter 4

Once again my cousin planted herself on the moral high ground to lecture.

I'd already seen it coming. I smiled and said,

"All the relatives and elders are here today, so it's better to get everything straight."

"You can't have my sister put in the money and the work, and then get no share of the property afterward. Where's the sense in that?"

The relatives all started murmuring among themselves.

Grandpa Walter nodded then and said,

"Marcus has a point. A lot of things are better spelled out now."

"I've seen plenty of families torn apart fighting over exactly this kind of thing."

"Settle it clearly now, and you save yourselves a world of trouble later."

Grandpa Vincent and Grandpa Nathan nodded along too.

With the elders directing things,

Grandpa Vincent's granddaughter, who's a lawyer, began drawing up a charter, and then Sandra and I signed it.

After that, the elders signed as witnesses.

Finally it went to Great-Uncle Roland to sign.

By the time it was all arranged, it was past ten at night.

The relatives who were going to leave left.

Sandra was getting ready to leave too.

But I blocked her.

"Sandra, now that everyone's roles are clear, we split all of it fifty-fifty."

"I've already been at the hospital caring for him half a month, and that's not even counting the two-plus years before that."

"So now, no matter how you look at it, you've got to stay and take care of Uncle Roland, right?"

Sandra shrieked,

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I came all this way from a thousand miles off, and you won't even let me get some rest?"

I laughed.

"You want to rest?"

"My sister and I both have jobs, and we still had to stay and take care of Uncle Roland, worked half to death, every one of us."

"We didn't get to rest, so what makes you think you get to?"

My sister didn't hold back either.

"You've built up the whole saintly act. Don't tell me you're ready to drop the good-person routine this fast?"

Sandra glared viciously at my sister.

"Marcia Gilbert, what did you just say?"

My sister gave it right back.

"My meaning couldn't be clearer."

"If you don't want to stay and take care of Uncle Roland, then go say so in the group chat yourself."

"Say all you can do is run your mouth, and you won't lift a finger to actually care for him!"

I added,

"She couldn't back out even if she wanted to."

"Everyone signed."

"Not unless she gives up her share of Uncle Roland's apartment."

Sandra's face went ugly with rage.

My sister and I didn't bother with her anymore.

We just left.

Three days went by like that.

Sandra slowly started getting agitated.

On the fourth day, the surgery was a success.

But Uncle Roland was left in a coma.

Facing that outcome, the relatives all said how sad it was.

Sandra's face grew darker and darker.

A few days later, Uncle Roland was discharged and came home.

That very night, Sandra wanted to pack up and go home.

"Sandra, where do you think you're going?"

Sandra glared at me, annoyed.

"Move. Where I go is none of your business."

I said flatly,

"Where you go isn't my business, but you're the one who insisted on the surgery. Now that Uncle Roland's in a coma, you have to stay and look after him."

Sandra froze for a second, then snapped at me,

"I've already taken care of Uncle Roland for a whole week. The rest is on you!"

I gave her a faint smile.

"Sandra, don't forget you signed. One week is only the beginning."