Matt asked what loans looked like, whether Madison could work part-time, whether the program had cheaper housing.
Karen answered each question like he was insulting talent.
“She needs to focus,” she said.
Robert added,
“You know how much she looks up to you.”
That was almost funny, considering they had paid nothing toward Matt’s education and had congratulated him for taking on debt at eighteen. He still said yes. Not all of it, but enough tuition support to make the program possible, enough monthly help that his weekends disappeared into extra shifts and a bookkeeping contract job he hated.
I told him very clearly I was not using my salary for Madison’s dream while we still had a daughter to raise and save for. He said he understood. He never fought me on that.
He just worked more.
That was the first bill with our daughter’s future hidden behind it.
The hardest part was that Chloe adored Madison anyway. With only five years between them, Madison never felt like a traditional aunt. She felt like the glamorous older girl at the center of the room, the one who knew eyeliner tricks, took cute mirror selfies, and talked to Chloe like she was old enough to be interesting.
When Chloe was eleven, Madison took her for iced coffee, let her hold the phone while she filmed outfit videos, and called her my tiny bestie. Chloe came home glowing every time. She copied Madison’s slang for a month after one mall trip. She started asking if she could wear her hair like Madison’s and help backstage when Madison had student performances.
I watched it happen and kept hoping some of it was real.
Madison could be generous in short bursts, especially when attention came with it. She’d surprise Chloe with clearance makeup, tag her in stories, tell people she’s obsessed with me, like it was adorable. Chloe heard affection.
I heard ownership.
But fourteen-year-old girls are built to reach toward people who look like who they might become. Madison knew how to stand in that light.
Chloe only saw glitter.
A few months before the birthday dinner, the three of us were at a bakery downtown after Chloe’s dentist appointment. We were waiting for coffee when Madison walked in, saw a display cake covered in fresh strawberries and soft pink piping, and stopped long enough to say,
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