He Threw Me Into a Fountain at My Sister’s Wedding Minutes Later, the Doors Opened and Everything Changed

I kept my voice level. “That’s not true.”

“You’ve missed half the wedding events.

You arrived alone without even the courtesy of a plus one.” He was moving closer, and I could see on his face the expression I’d known since childhood, the one that meant he’d found an audience worth performing for. “She couldn’t even find a date,” he announced, and scattered nervous laughter followed. “Thirty-two years old and not a prospect in sight.

Meanwhile your sister has secured one of Boston’s most eligible bachelors.”

The laughter grew. He was encouraged by it. I glanced at my mother and sister, looking for any flicker of intervention.

My mother smiled tightly. Allison watched with barely concealed satisfaction. “This is a celebration of success,” my father continued, advancing toward me.

“A family achievement, something you would know nothing about. You’ve always been jealous of your sister’s accomplishments. Always the disappointment.

Always the failure.”