Trevor cut me off. His hand found mine under the table and squeezed just a little too hard.
“Of course she can use it,” he said. “Family helps family, right, Jess?”
It wasn’t really a question. I tried anyway.
“The kids have appointments this week. I need to do grocery shopping, and Lily has ballet on Thursday.”
“You can take my car,” Nicole offered quickly—too quickly. “I’ll just Uber to work for a few days. No big deal.”
Except Nicole’s car was a tiny two-door coupe that didn’t even have proper back seats, let alone space for two car seats and groceries. But everyone was looking at me like I was being difficult, like I was the unreasonable one for hesitating to hand over the vehicle my father had bought specifically for my children’s safety.
“That’s so generous of you,” Patricia said warmly, then turned to me with expectation written all over her face. “Isn’t that generous, Jessica?”
I felt trapped—cornered by politeness and family expectations, Trevor’s hand still gripping mine under the table.
“Sure,” I heard myself say. “Of course. Family helps family.”
Amber’s smile turned triumphant.
“You’re the best, Jess. I’ll take great care of it. I promise.”
That had been three weeks ago, and a few days had stretched and stretched like taffy being pulled. First, Amber needed it through the weekend because the clients wanted to see more properties. Then she needed it for another week because she had more showings lined up. Then, suddenly, Nicole’s car actually was in the shop—or so she claimed—and she needed to borrow it too.
Every time I asked Trevor when I’d get my car back, he got defensive.
“Why are you being so selfish about this?” he snapped one evening while I was making dinner. “My sister is trying to make a big sale that could really help her career, and you’re worried about driving to the grocery store.”
“It’s not just the grocery store,” I protested quietly, stirring the pasta sauce and not looking at him. “It’s the kids’ activities. Their appointments. Your father bought that car specifically because—”
“Your father,” he corrected sharply. “Your father bought it. Yes. And he thinks that means he can control everything, doesn’t he?”
My head spun.
“Well, you’re part of the Hayes family now, Jessica. That means what’s yours is ours.”
That logic made me feel dizzy. But I’d learned that arguing with Trevor when he was in that mood only made things worse. So I adjusted. I figured out bus routes and subway schedules. I learned which grocery stores were closest to which stations. I carried Owen when he got too tired to walk and held Lily’s hand through crowded platforms and pretended everything was fine.
Until last Wednesday, when I finally broke.
Amber had posted photos on social media—her and Nicole in my car at some wine bar downtown—with the caption: Sisters who slay together stay together. Not showing properties. Not with clients. Just out having fun in the vehicle they’d guilted me into lending them.
I showed the photos to Trevor that night after the kids were in bed.
“I need the car back,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “This was supposed to be for a few days for work, and they’re just using it to go out. I need it back, Trevor.”
His face darkened immediately.
“Are you serious right now? You’re going to make a big deal about this?”
“It’s been three weeks. I’ve been taking two small children on public transportation in the heat, carrying groceries, and your sisters are using my car to go drinking downtown. Yes, I’m serious.”
I hadn’t meant to raise my voice, but the frustration had finally boiled over. And that’s when everything changed. Trevor pulled out his phone and made a call.
“Hey, Amber. Yeah. Can you and Nicole come over? We need to have a family discussion.”
They arrived within thirty minutes, like they’d been waiting for the call. And suddenly I was facing all three of them in my own kitchen: Trevor standing with his arms crossed, Amber leaning against the counter with that superior smirk, Nicole examining her nails like this was boring but necessary.
“So Jessica has decided to be difficult about the car situation,” Trevor announced like I wasn’t even there.
