So, last week while we were putting together a dinner to remember our late dad, my brother, James, threw everyone for a loop with how he was acting. Hes been working out in Australia for over fifteen years, and in all that time hed only come home twice. Now, just nine days after Dad passed, he suddenly showed up out of the blue. James looked jittery from the start, kept demanding to know where certain things were, and rummaged all through our parents house.
Even the caterer was a bit taken aback, pointing out that James hadnt been around in ages, while my sister, Abigail, had been the one truly looking after Mum and Dad. But James didnt come home to say his goodbyes or support us. Nopehe was clearly searching for something. Abigail was honestly baffled by the whole thing, thinking hed returned to help her through this rough time.
Instead, his behaviour was anything but supportive. James started questioning who owned what in the house, insisting that everything rightfully belonged to him. He even produced some old paperwork, claiming our parents had signed everything over to him more than twenty years ago. He tried to make Abigail feel like she was scheming to steal his home. She ended up so upset that she left the house in tears, and a bunch of our friends and relatives followed, all really unsettled by how James was acting.
The tension in the air was terrible, but James stayed for another week, fitting the place with new locks and grilles on every door and window before heading back to his wife. Sometime later, a neighbour from his flat in Australia called to pass on some worrying newsJames was seriously ill, and things werent looking good for him. His health was going to go downhill, really similar to what our dad went through. When his wife found out, she actually urged him to return home, saying she couldnt cope and that he was becoming too much for her.
But heres the thing: Abigail doesnt even hesitate. Even after all the grief James put her through, she insists hes still her brother and its her responsibility to look after him. Her daughter, though, is seriously worried that Abigail is just going to sacrifice herself all over again for someone whos only ever been ungrateful. She tells her mum point blank that she wants her to spend time with her and the grandchildrenthe kids absolutely adore their grandma.
So Abigails stuck, torn right down the middle. She feels sorry for James, knowing just how rough things are for him, but she can also see that her daughters got a point. Its weighing heavily on her, trying to figure out whats best for herself and the whole family, not wanting to let anyone down.
