Another pause.
“She made it sound like she was making sacrifices.”
The only sacrifice Madison had made was giving up any pretense of independence, but I didn’t say that. Tyler was figuring it out on his own.
“Look,” he said finally, “I called because I need advice. How do I get them to leave without destroying my relationship with Madison?”
“You probably can’t do both.”
“What do you mean?”
“Madison has never learned that her actions have consequences because someone always rescues her from those consequences. If you rescue her now, you’ll be rescuing her for the rest of your relationship.”
“But I love her.”
“I love her too. That’s why I spent three years enabling her. Love doesn’t mean accepting unacceptable behavior.”
After we hung up, I realized something important. I no longer felt guilty about my decision. I felt sorry for Tyler, sorry for my parents who’d created this mess, even sorry for Madison, who’d never learned basic adult skills.
But I didn’t feel guilty for protecting myself.
That clarity lasted exactly two days, until Madison showed up at my office.
She walked into the lobby looking perfectly put together, designer clothes and fresh manicure. Every inch the successful young woman she’d never actually been.
My assistant buzzed me.
“Laura, your sister is here. She says it’s urgent.”
Against my better judgment, I agreed to see her.
Madison swept into my office like she owned it, settling into the chair across from my desk with practiced elegance.
“Nice office,” she said, looking around. “Success suits you.”
I waited.
Madison never gave compliments without wanting something.
“I came to apologize,” she said finally.
That was unexpected.
“I’ve been thinking about everything that happened, and I realize we might have taken advantage of your generosity.”
Might have.
The qualifier was telling.
“I want to make things right between us,” she continued. “Family is too important to lose over money.”
“What exactly are you proposing?”
“Tyler and I will pay you back. Not all at once, obviously, but we’ll set up a payment plan. And we’ll pay for our own wedding. Something small and reasonable.”
It sounded too good to be true, which meant it probably was.
“What’s the catch, Madison?”
Her composed mask slipped slightly.
“There’s no catch. I just want my sister back.”
“Then why do you look like you’re about to ask me for something?”
She fidgeted with her purse strap, a tell I’d learned to recognize years ago.
“Well, the thing is, Tyler’s place is really small for four people, and his lease has some restrictions about long-term guests, so we were hoping…”
There it was.
“You want to move back in?”
“Just temporarily. Just until we find something permanent. And we’d pay rent this time. I promise.”
I leaned back in my chair, studying my sister’s face. She looked sincere. But Madison had always been good at looking sincere when she wanted something.
“How much rent?”
“We were thinking maybe eight hundred a month.”
My mortgage alone was twenty-eight hundred. Add utilities, property taxes, insurance, and basic maintenance, and eight hundred wouldn’t cover a quarter of the actual costs. But it was progress from the previous offer of five hundred.
“And how long is temporary this time?”
“Six months max. Just until we get married and find our own place.”
“Where’s the wedding going to be?”
“We’re looking at some smaller venues. Maybe something in the fifteen-thousand range.”