I just wanted to spend a quiet weekend at my beach house. But my sister’s husband was already there with his entire family and yelled, “Why is this parasite here? Get the hell out.” I smiled and said, “Sure, I’m leaving.” But what happened next made him regret ever saying that.

For most of my life I had been the easygoing one in the family. I was the sister who avoided arguments and the daughter who tried to keep peace at every holiday gathering. I had loaned Lauren money when she and Bradley struggled with their mortgage. I had babysat their children more times than I could count and I had helped Bradley’s younger brother move into a new apartment the previous summer during a brutal heat wave.

I had always been generous. Apparently generosity had been mistaken for weakness.

A slow smile formed on my face. “Alright,” I said calmly. “I will leave.”

Bradley looked briefly surprised as if he expected a bigger argument.

“Finally some common sense,” he said.

I turned toward the door and took a few steps before stopping. “Just to be clear,” I said while looking back at him. “You are telling me to leave my own house.”

“That is exactly what I am telling you,” Bradley replied.

I shifted my gaze toward my sister. “And you are fine with that Lauren.”

She avoided my eyes again. “It is just one weekend Abigail. Do not be dramatic.”

I nodded slowly. “Okay then. Enjoy your weekend.”