easonable about a simple decision,” my sister retorted.
“Get your stuff and get out of this house!”
“Now, now, children, please calm down,” Grandma began, but Mia interrupted her by grabbing her designer handbag and storming out the front door. The door banged shut behind her.
Grandma was crying now, so I ran over and wrapped my arms around her, feeling her thin shoulders shake. My anger burned fiercely in my chest.
I wanted to call Mia and scream at her for hours!
“You’re acting completely unreasonable.”
***
That evening, the house felt terribly quiet. I’d decided to sleep over to comfort our grandma.
Then I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. My grandma walked inside and sat on the edge of my bed.
“We need to have a serious talk, my angel,” Grandma said. “Please go to your sister’s wedding.”
“I refuse to support her after what she did. You deserve a front-row seat more than anyone.”
“I honestly don’t have to be there,” my grandma quietly responded, but I could see the hurt in her eyes. “I just want my grandbaby to be happy on her special day.”
“We need to have a serious talk.”
“How are you so forgiving and understanding? Mia treated you like absolute garbage.”
“I don’t care. In fact, I’ll even send her a lovely gift,” Grandma said with a smile.
“She certainly doesn’t deserve a gift from you.”
“I’m begging you to attend the ceremony.”
“I can’t stand the thought of looking at her smug face,” I said. “But fine, I’ll only go because you’re asking me to.”
That made my grandma smile. “Thank you.”
“How are you so forgiving?”
“Don’t expect me to smile for any of their fancy photos,” I said rebelliously.
That made my grandma smile again.
“Just make sure you deliver my present to the bridal suite.”
I nodded reluctantly.
Then Grandma reached deep into her faded apron pocket. She pulled out a small, wrapped box and held it out to me. I took the box from Grandma’s tired hands, wondering what she could give to a girl who only cared about status.
I nodded reluctantly.
***
On the day of the wedding, I drove to the massive estate where the special occasion was taking place. I truly attended the lavish celebration only because Grandma insisted.
I found Mia inside the bridal suite. She sat surrounded by makeup artists and photographers.
“Leave us alone for a minute,” I told the group.
“You’re late,” Mia snapped.
“I stayed back to check on Grandma,” I replied.
“She’ll survive just fine without you. Did you bring the matching earrings?”
“Leave us alone for a minute.”
I frowned, but chose to hold back since I didn’t want to be blamed for ruining Mia’s wedding.
“I brought something much more important,” I replied.
I pulled the small box out of my purse.
“What is that?”
“It’s from Grandma,” I said. “She asked me to bring it. It’s her wedding gift to you.”
My sister rolled her eyes before turning away.
“Just leave it somewhere at Grandma’s house,” she sighed.
“You refuse to even open it?”
Mia ignored me.
“What is that?”
It took all the strength I had not to say exactly what I thought.
“She specifically asked me to deliver this today.”
“Look at my custom dress,” Mia argued. “Does it look as if I need another cheap trinket? I know exactly what it is. It probably contains old lace or a dusty photo frame. Stop trying to ruin my mood.”
Still, I refused to give up.
“I’m only asking you to open the gift. It takes five seconds.”
“Stop trying to ruin my mood.”
“The best I can do is deal with it after my honeymoon in Europe. I refuse to let you ruin my makeup with guilt trips.”
I sighed and put the box back into my bag, already struggling with what I’d say to Grandma.
“You’re making a huge mistake,” I told her. “You’re throwing away the only real love in this room.”
“Put it on the shelf,” Mia demanded. “Now get out of my suite.”
The box in my bag felt incredibly heavy with all the love my sister tossed aside.
I felt completely disgusted with her attitude.
“You’re making a huge mistake.”
“I’ll leave it,” I said. “But you’re guaranteeing your own regret. Karma never misses.”
“I doubt that,” Mia laughed.
“Enjoy your wealthy new family,” I said.
“Just sit at your assigned table and smile for the photos,” my sister instructed. “Make sure my veil looks perfect before you walk out.”
“Fix it yourself,” I replied as I walked out of the bridal suite, leaving behind the earrings without looking back.
Sometimes I wondered whether we were really siblings.
“I doubt that.”
***
The rest of the wedding felt like a massive blur. I sat quietly at my table while Mia danced with her rich friends. She never once mentioned Grandma during her speech.
That evil sibling thanked her new in-laws for their money instead and praised her husband for his expensive tastes. I felt absolutely sick to my stomach.
“Are you enjoying the party?” A guest asked me.
“It looks like a beautiful venue,” I lied.
“Your sister looks so incredibly happy,” the guest said.
“Yep, she got exactly what she wanted: her way into high society.”
That evil sibling thanked her new in-laws.
***
I barely touched any of the fancy food. Every time I looked at Mia, I just felt a deep, boiling anger.
A massive wedge formed between my sister and me that evening.
***
A month later, Grandma died suddenly. My heart was completely shattered, and part of me blamed Mia for refusing to open our grandma’s present. After the wedding, I went to Grandma’s house, and I lied and told her my sister had been thrilled to receive her gift.
I said she’d asked me to leave it at her house because she wanted to open it when she returned from her honeymoon.
I just felt a deep, boiling anger.
It was clear that Grandma didn’t believe a word I said. I still think she died from a broken heart.
***
Yesterday, I started packing our grandma’s belongings into large cardboard boxes. To my surprise, Mia decided to join me after I texted her my plans.
While sorting through clothes, I spotted that same box still sitting on the living room shelf where I’d left it for my sister.
“So you really never collected Grandma’s wedding gift?”
“I completely forgot about it,” Mia said. “I figured it was probably just some useless junk, anyway.”
“I couldn’t believe you made me bring it home from the venue and just left it here for a whole month!”
To my surprise, Mia decided to join me.
“I’m sorry, sheesh!” I watched her walk over to the shelf where I’d placed it and pick up the small box.
My sister unwrapped the box and popped the lid off. I noticed her face go completely pale the moment she looked inside.
“What did she leave for you?”
“There’s… there’s a check in here,” she choked out.
My eyes widened as I moved closer to look.
“It’s a balance of $40,000! Is this real?” Mia gasped.
“What did she leave for you?”
“There’s also a handwritten note,” Mia whispered.
“My dearest Mia,” my sister began reading. “You’ve always had a taste for the finer things in life, even as a child. So, I anticipated your needs and secretly deposited my extra cleaning money every week since your mom died.”
I wiped the tears from my eyes.
Mia sobbed, but continued, “I never want you to feel inferior around your wealthy new family. I hope you’ve found absolute happiness, my grandbaby. Love always, Grandma.”
“I anticipated your needs.
I realized that Grandma allowed herself to live poorly, exhausted, and struggling to pay her bills while she had so much money.
“I treated her like an embarrassment,” Mia cried. “I told her she wasn’t good enough for my wedding. I ruined my relationship with her forever!”
“I told you she didn’t deserve your cruelty.”
“I hate myself for this,” my sister wept.
I watched her break down in heavy tears. I felt no urge to comfort her.
Instead, I found peace knowing I’d cherished our grandma while she was actually here.
