I seized the moment. "Let's table all that for now. Just give me the money for the New Year shopping, and I'll go pick everything up."
Honestly? I wasn't planning to boycott the whole thing.
I just needed to know—given everything—how much Mom would actually hand over. How much she expected me to cover this time.
It wasn't that I refused to contribute. I just refused to be treated like an idiot.
In previous years, the New Year haul ran well over ten thousand dollars. Even if Mom didn't track every price tag, she knew the ballpark. She had to.
If she gave me five thousand, I'd let it go. I'd stop keeping score.
Mom hemmed and hawed for what felt like an eternity before finally sending the transfer.
I glanced at my phone.
Two hundred dollars.
Two hundred. That wouldn't even cover the rounding error.
The disappointment hit like a punch to the sternum. She knew. Of course she knew. She was just playing dumb—because as long as she pretended not to notice everything I'd poured into this family, she didn't have to reciprocate.
And if she didn't give me enough, well, I'd just make up the difference myself. Right?
The old me would have. But now that I understood exactly where I stood with her?
Not a chance.
I spent every last cent of that two hundred. Not a penny more.
When I walked through the door, the look on Mom's face shifted from eager anticipation to something approaching cardiac arrest.
"Tania! I gave you money for New Year shopping—we have a house full of people and THIS is what you come back with?"
I shrugged, the picture of helpless resignation. "Budget constraints. My hands were tied."
While everyone exchanged bewildered glances, my nephew broke the silence first.
"Where's my game console? You said I was getting a game console!"
I ruffled his hair. "Be good, okay? Auntie's broke."
Stan Fox shot to his feet, palm slamming against the table. "Tania, don't push your luck! Mom gave you money and you buy this pathetic haul—who do you think you're fooling? We all know what things used to look like!"
His voice climbed higher. "Did you pocket Mom's cash? You're a grown woman—is this really the hill you want to die on over a few bucks?"
He wasn't done. "And what's the big deal about buying your own nephew a game console? When did you turn into such an ingrate? It's pocket change!"
I let a beat pass before responding, my tone flat. "That console costs three thousand dollars. Since it's no big deal to you, why don't you send me a red envelope for three thousand right now? Pocket change, like you said."
Mom materialized at my elbow, dabbing at nonexistent tears. "I raised you with my own two hands—I never expected greatness, but I didn't think you'd nickel-and-dime your own family. You're breaking my heart."
She pressed on. "You and Stan grew up together, flesh and blood. What's wrong with a sister helping her brother out a little? That's just how family works."
The relatives who'd been eyeing the conspicuously meager spread piled on.
"Tania, I always thought you were such a good girl. How could you do something like this?"
I drew a slow breath.
"Mom. What I've 'helped out' with isn't 'a little.' You think money grows on trees for me?"
I ticked off the items on my fingers. "I won't even mention the furniture and household odds and ends. The three hundred thousand Stan borrowed for his house. The hundred thousand for Daisy's wedding jewelry. The two hundred forty thousand for their renovations. Lee Fox's clothes and toys—tens of thousands, easy. And every New Year, between the shopping and the red envelopes? Tens of thousands more."
My voice didn't waver. "All these years I've been working, I've allowed myself two thousand a month for living expenses. Two thousand. Everything else went straight into propping up this family. Did you ever—once—stop to consider me?"
Mom's mouth opened and closed. "You... you earn more. Your brother isn't as successful as—"
I didn't let her finish. I pulled out my phone. "Since nobody's satisfied, let me solve that. I'll transfer your two hundred back. I'm returning everything I bought. As for the New Year shopping?"
I met Stan's eyes.
"That's on you now."
