– Arrived, have you? Who on earth invited you? Would’ve been better if you’d just helped out with some cash, – Aunt Martha muttered dryly.
Jessica scrunched up her face at the persistent ringing that woke her up.
She looked at her phone screen in surprise – it was her cousin, who hadn’t spoken to her in over two years.
– Are you asleep or what? Lucky you, I haven’t had a wink. Crying my eyes out…
– Of course, it’s the middle of the night, I’m sleeping, – Jessica glanced at the clock showing half past one in the morning.
– If you’re sleeping so peacefully, you must not know yet? – her cousin spoke in riddles.
– Jane, get to the point, – Jessica yawned into the phone. – I’ve got to get up early.
– You’ll have time to sleep. There’s grief in the family! – her cousin said reproachfully, as if Jessica was somehow involved.
– What happened? – Jessica asked fearfully, thinking something had happened to her mother.
– Uncle Trevor passed away today, – Jane sobbed. – Completely out of the blue. Aunt Martha was shocked. We’re out of money. We need to chip in. My brother and I are going to the village tomorrow. Are you coming with us?
– No, I can’t. I’ll only come for the service.
– Then send me the money, we’ll pass it on to Aunt tomorrow, – Jane reminded of the financial help. – Five hundred pounds.
Jessica promptly transferred the required amount to her cousin’s account and went back to sleep.
She wasn’t too upset by the sad news, as she hadn’t been in touch with her father’s family for a long time.
After her dad’s passing, they stopped contacting Jessica’s family, claiming they were no longer relatives.
Jessica thought it would be rude to ignore the situation and decided to help.
After the money transfer, no one called her. Jane seemed to forget about her.
Jessica tried calling her a few times to learn the date of the service, but her cousin wouldn’t pick up.
After struggling to find out through mutual friends, Jessica went to say her final goodbye to her uncle.
Aunt Martha met her with a dissatisfied look, appearing more upset by Jessica’s presence than by her husband’s death.
– So you came… Who even told you to come?! Would’ve been better had you chipped in with some cash, – Aunt Martha sneered disdainfully.
– I transferred five hundred pounds, – Jessica replied.
– Odd, I didn’t receive anything, – Aunt Martha scoffed incredulously.
– I sent it through Jane…
– Oh, you’re lying, – the woman crossed her arms over her stomach. – They only gave me a thousand pounds, five hundred from each of them. You weren’t on the list.
– I don’t understand, – Jessica began looking around for her cousin.
But Jane, as luck would have it, was missing. Jessica eventually found her outside by the fence.
– Jane, didn’t you give Aunt Martha the money I sent? Then where is it? – Jessica demanded.
– I did give it, – Jane replied reluctantly.
– Aunt said the money was only from you and your brother…
– She’s confused, – Jane answered indifferently.
– Did you give her a thousand pounds?
– Yes.
– That’s for the two of you, not three!
– Excuse me! Someone has to cover the petrol costs, – Jane rolled her eyes and pulled a face.
– Five hundred pounds? It’s only a two-hundred-mile drive. Besides, why should I pay for your trip? – Jessica fired back with questions.
– So, do you want me to give you back your money or what? – Jane inquired sarcastically.
– Yes, I do!
– Not now, I’ll transfer it later, – Jane turned and walked away with her head held high.
After all that, Jessica immediately regretted being in someone else’s home. Her aunt and cousin’s actions made her wish she hadn’t agreed to help.
Quietly, she called a cab and left. A week later, her mother called her in tears.
– Is it true you first gave money for Trevor’s funeral and then took it back? – her mother asked, nearly crying.
– I gave it, but I didn’t take anything back.
– Aunt Martha is going around the village saying you took the money back. And all because she didn’t welcome you with open arms, – her mother said sadly. – Everyone’s giving me strange looks; it’s embarrassing to walk around.
– Mum, that’s not how it happened! – Jessica was outraged by the rumours her family had spread.
She immediately explained to her mother what really happened at Aunt Martha’s house.
– Jane never returned my money, – Jessica concluded her account.
– So, she took the money from Aunt Martha, claimed you took it back! Shameless! Hope the money chokes them! – Jessica’s mother said in anger.
After learning this, Jessica initially wanted to call Jane but decided it wasn’t worth the stress, choosing instead to cut off contact with her.
However, a few months later, her cousin unexpectedly got in touch.
– We’ve decided to put up a memorial for Uncle Trevor. It’ll be seven hundred pounds from you, – Jane stated matter-of-factly.
– No, I won’t give another penny!
– What a family attitude, – Jane moaned into the phone. – Honestly, didn’t expect this from you.
– I didn’t expect to be tricked like a fool and then have rumours spread.
– What are you even talking about?
– Did you take my money from Aunt Martha?
– No!
– You’re lying!
– Fine, I took it, and what of it? – Jane responded defiantly. – You hardly contribute to the family anyway.
– Perhaps that’s because I’m only thought of in emergencies?
– Why have family then? So, will you contribute or not?
– No. You took the money from Aunt Martha, didn’t return mine, kept it for yourself, and made it seem like I took it back. After all this, do you think I’d want to deal with you? Besides, after Dad passed, you all declared we weren’t family anymore, so I’m not obliged to help! – Jessica expressed firmly and, not wanting to hear more, blocked her cousin’s number.
