“Mom and Dad have always been there for you,” she snapped.

I could have listed the birthdays, emergencies, college recitals, and ordinary afternoons when that wasn’t true.

I could have told everyone about my first flower-show award, which Dad missed because Vanessa wanted him to drive two towns over to retrieve a forgotten handbag.

But arguments about who suffered more had swallowed too much of my life already.

“I won’t debate my childhood in front of my guests,” I said.

“And I’m not asking you to agree with my choice.”