When Cathy accepted her sister’s invitation to a family pool day, she hoped for laughter, not exclusion. It had been far too long since a gathering felt unhurried, and she wanted her daughter Lily to bond with her cousins.
Susan’s estate was beautiful—manicured lawns, shimmering pool, and a crowd filled more with Cooper’s friends than family. Cathy tried to ignore the subtle shift in her sister, who now seemed more polished stranger than the carefree woman who once let her dog nap in the bathtub.
Lily, bright-eyed and brimming with excitement, darted toward the pool. Cathy lingered in conversation until her daughter returned, tears streaking her cheeks.
“Aunt Susan said I can’t swim,” Lily sobbed. “She’s taking pictures of Avery and her friends.”
The words hit Cathy like a slap. Her daughter—kind, considerate, and no trouble at all—had been excluded while the others splashed freely.
Heat surged in Cathy’s chest as she rose, Lily’s hand in hers. Walking toward the pool, she knew this was no longer just about a party. It was about the line she would not let her sister cross.
