I looked at my sister.
She lowered the note.
« Mom wrote that? »
« She did. »
Dad touched the box.
« Remember how we cleaned this together? You spent weeks helping around the house because you wanted to contribute to fixing it. »
Amanda looked down.
« I remember cleaning it. »
« And do you remember your mother telling you that making a mistake didn’t make you a bad daughter? »
She nodded reluctantly.
« She said she loved me. »
« Yes. She loved you, and she still expected you to help make things right. »
Amanda pushed the note toward him.
« That’s different. Jessica’s car isn’t some priceless family heirloom. »
I felt that familiar sting.
« So my things don’t matter because they’re not expensive enough? »
« That’s not what I said. »
« Then what are you saying? »
Amanda looked away.
Dad gently closed the box.
« Your mother didn’t care about the price when she explained why asking permission mattered. She cared about respect. »
Amanda started pacing.
« I can’t believe we’re having this conversation over some paint. »
« Then let’s talk about the paint, » Dad said.
He slid the printed pages toward her.
I recognized photographs of my car.
« I sent pictures to a detailing shop this morning, » he explained. « They gave me a preliminary estimate. They need to inspect the paint before giving us an actual price. »
Amanda glanced at the figures.
« That’s ridiculous! »
« It’s a range, not a final bill, » Dad said. « And Jessica shouldn’t have to guess whether she can safely remove it herself. »
« She asked me to split the cost! » Amanda protested.
« Which was generous, » Dad replied.
Amanda turned toward me.
« You’re really going to let Dad gang up on me? »
I took a moment before answering.
« I didn’t ask him to bring any of this here. Yesterday, I asked you for help, and you told me I wasn’t allowed to see Lily anymore. »
« Because you made her feel terrible! »
Something about that bothered me.
« Lily didn’t seem upset when I hugged her. »
Amanda opened her mouth, then stopped.
I remembered Lily running excitedly toward the house after showing me the car.
« Actually, how did she even get the paints? »
Amanda sighed.
« They were left over from the craft activity. I was busy getting everything ready. »
« Did she ask you what she could do with them? »
Amanda hesitated.
Dad noticed.
« Amanda? »
