“Is that you? Who even invited you? Youd have been better off helping financially,” Aunt Marie snapped coldly.
Emily furrowed her brow as the relentless ringing jolted her awake. She squinted at her phone screen in disbeliefher cousin Sophie, whom she hadnt spoken to in over two years, was calling.
“Are you asleep? Must be niceI cant stop crying…”
“Yes, obviously I was asleepits half one in the morning,” Emily muttered, glancing at her bedside clock.
“If youre sleeping this peacefully, you must still be clueless,” Sophie said cryptically.
“Sophie, get to the point,” Emily sighed into the phone. “Ive got an early start.”
“You can sleep later. Theres been a tragedy in the family!” she announced, as though Emily were somehow to blame.
“What kind of tragedy?” Emily asked, her stomach tightening at the thought of something happening to her mum.
“Uncle William died this morning,” Sophie sobbed. “Suddenly. Aunt Maries beside herself. Theres no money. Were all chipping in to help. Me and Daniel are going to the village tomorrow. You coming?”
“No, I cant. Ill just come for the wake.”
“Finejust transfer the money then. Well give it to Aunt Marie tomorrow,” Sophie pressed. “Seven hundred quid.”
Emily sent the amount straight away via her phone and drifted back to sleep. She wasnt particularly sadshe hadnt spoken to her fathers side of the family in years.
After his death, theyd cut ties with Emily and her mother, declaring they werent family anymore. Still, she thought it would be rude not to help.
After the transfer, no one called. Sophie forgot her instantly.
Emily tried reaching her several times to confirm the wake details, but her cousin ignored her. Eventually, she pieced it together through mutual friends and went to pay her last respects.
Aunt Marie greeted her with a scowl, as if Emilys presence was more bothersome than her husbands death.
“Youre here Who invited you? Money wouldve been more useful,” she sneered.
“I sent seven hundred pounds,” Emily replied.
“Funny, I never saw a penny,” Aunt Marie sniffed.
“I gave it to Sophie”
“Oh, now youre spinning tales,” she cut in, folding her arms. “Sophie and Daniel only brought a thousandfive hundred each. Your name never came up.”
“I dont understand,” Emily said, scanning the room for Sophie.
Conveniently, she had vanished. Emily finally spotted her outside by the gate.
“Sophie, did you not give Aunt Marie my money? Where is it?” she demanded.
“I did,” Sophie muttered.
“She said it only came from you and Daniel”
“Shes mistaken,” Sophie said flatly.
“You gave her a thousand?”
“Yeah.”
“That was meant to cover us two, not three!”
“Well, whos paying for petrol then?” Sophie rolled her eyes.
“Seven hundred quid for a two-hundred-mile trip? And why should I cover your costs?”
“You want a refund, is that it?” Sophie scoffed.
“Yes, actually!”
“Not now. Ill transfer it later,” she said, turning on her heel.
Disgusted, Emily left without another word, calling a taxi quietly. A week later, her mum rang in tears.
“Love, is it true you gave money for Williams funeral and then took it back?” she wept.
“I gave it. I didnt take anything.”
“Aunt Maries telling the whole village you did. Shes hurt you didnt stay to Oh, its mortifying. People are staring at me in the shops!”
“Mum, thats not what happened!” Emily fumed at the lies. She explained the truth.
“Sophie kept the money, never paid me backand made it seem like I demanded it! Cheeky cowI hope they choke on that cash!” her mother spat.
Emily considered confronting Sophie, but in the end, she chose peace and cut ties.
Yet months later, Sophie reappeared.
“Were putting up a headstone for Uncle William. Thatll be a grand from you.”
“Not a penny more.”
“Some family loyalty,” Sophie huffed. “Honestly shocking.”
“LikewiseI didnt expect to be swindled and slandered.”
“What rubbish are you on about?”
“You pocketed Aunt Maries money, blamed meand now you think Ill play along? You made it clear Mum and I werent family after Dad died. I owe you nothing.”
With that, Emily blocked her for good.
