Free Someone Is Watching by Joy Fielding

says sharply. “In fantasies, no one actually gets hurt.” She opens the fridge and starts putting things away. “I think you should apologize to Bailey.”
    “What for?”
    “It’s all right,” I say.
    “You’re the one who should apologize,” Jade says to her mother. “You’re the one who’s trying to steal all her money.”
    Claire takes a deep breath. “Okay. I think you’ve said quite enough for one night.”
    “Can I go watch TV?”
    “No,” Claire says, then changes her mind: “Yes. Go. By all means, go watch TV.”
    Jade takes off down the hall. Seconds later, we hear the television blaring.
    “I’m really sorry,” Claire begins.
    “It’s okay.”
    “It’s not okay. I didn’t come here to upset you.”
    “Why
are
you here?” I ask.
    She closes the refrigerator door, leans back against the counter. “Gene told me about what happened. I felt terrible. We both did. Look. I know you and I have never had much of a relationship. And I know we’re suing you. But …” She sighs, looks me right in the eye. “But we’re still family. We’re still sisters. In spite of everything. And I’m a nurse. I guess I thought I might be able to help.” She glances down the hall toward my bedroom, the noise from the television bouncing off the walls toward us. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
    “I’m glad you’re here,” I tell her.
    “Even though I’m trying to steal all your money?” Another glance toward my bedroom.
    “I know that’s not what you’re trying to do.”
    “Gene is just so adamant about the lawsuit. So are the others. They’re very angry.”
    “And you’re not?”
    “Sometimes,” she admits. “I mean, it hurts to be left out of your own father’s will, but hell, we were pretty much left out of his life, so I guess we should be used to it by now. At least he provided for Jade and her education. Not that she’s headed for Harvard.”
    “She may surprise you.”
    “You want to know what her biggest ambition is at the moment?”
    I nod, realizing I am actually enjoying this conversation, thatit’s the first conversation I’ve had in weeks that isn’t all about me, about being raped.
    “She wants to get pregnant so she can get on one of those reality shows she’s always watching, like
Teen Mom
or
16 and Pregnant.
One of those.”
    I laugh in spite of the serious look on Claire’s face. Or maybe because of it.
    “You think I’m joking? Ask her. She’ll tell you.”
    “I think she’s trying to provoke you.”
    “Oh, we’re way past being provocative. I actually caught her with some guy last week. I came home from my shift at the hospital at about two A . M . and there they were, rolling around my living room floor, pretty much naked. I flip on the light and you know what happens? I’m the one who gets yelled at!
What are you doing home so early? You’re supposed to be working till three. Are you trying to ruin my social life?
That’s the kind of crap I have to put up with. Is she embarrassed? Not a bit. Is he? Not that I could tell. The idiot pulls on his jeans, then leans back against the sofa and reaches for his cigarettes. I tell him to take his filthy habit and get out of my house; Jade threatens to go with him; I tell her that her uncle Gene will have her back in Juvenile Hall so fast it’ll make her head spin. And that goes double for Sir Galahad, who’s already got one foot out the door. That ends that discussion. I give her the speech about the dangers of unprotected sex, which is when she informs me that she wants to get pregnant so she can be on some stupid reality show. And she’s serious,” Claire adds before I can say otherwise.
    So I say nothing.
    “Oh, and of course, she calls me a hypocrite, reminds me that I was pregnant when I married her father.” Claire resumes putting the rest of the groceries in the fridge.
    “What does he think of all this?” I ask. I know that Claire has been divorced a long time, but that’s