Chapter Text
The large oak door looms in front of us as I glance at my younger sister, waiting for one of us to knock. Violet lifts a hand and raps three times. I almost scoff; she looks so prissy in a light blue dress and white cardigan. A maid I don’t recognise answers the door, not that I’ve recognised any of her staff since I left home. They could never stand my mother for more than a few months. We step across the threshold into our parents’ house.
“Hi Mom,” I greet her coldly as she walks into the foyer.
“Mira, Violet, how lovely to see you. Can I get you a drink?” Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes.
“Mom!” Violet is always more excited to see our parents, being too young to remember when and why we left. “Happy anniversary! Where’s Dad?”
“In his study, as usual,” she rolls her eyes. “Why don’t you see if you can get him to join us?” Violet runs off to find our father, leaving me to hang our coats.
“New maid?” I ask, searching for some small talk to fill the silence stretching through the house.
“Luca, she started last week. Lovely girl but seems confused about the use of a duster.” It’s my turn to roll my eyes. Maids never stick around in this house long enough to meet Lilith Sorrengail’s impossible standards. “How about that drink then, Mira? Martini?”
“Sure.” I give her a tight-lipped smile as I watch Violet guide our father into the living room. “Violet will have a coke, unless you’ve started serving minors, in which case I’ll have to take your liquor license.”
“Mira! She’s sixteen!” Mom sputters, horrified.
“I know she’s sixteen. God’s Mom, it was just a joke.” Mom just nods stiffly and I follow her to the couch.
“Happy anniversary, Dad,” I tell him, taking a seat.
“Oh, thank you Mira,” he responds, before going back to his conversation with Violet.
“Don’t slouch, it’s unbecoming.” Mom admonishes, handing me a glass. I sink further into the couch and take a sip of my drink.
“Mmm, extra dirty, just how I like it.” I know I’m poking a bear, but sometimes it’s fun to get Mom riled up.
“For goodness sake, Mira. Can’t you take things seriously for once?” Mom smooths her skirt with her hands, as if it’ll somehow protect her from the disappointment of her eldest daughter.
“No, Mom. I am physically incapable of taking things seriously. It’s why I’m the manager of an incredibly successful inn.” I bite back sarcastically. Her face tightens.
“Well, it’s time for dinner, so go and sit at the table.” I roll my eyes as soon as her back is turned.
“C’mon Vi. El duce wants us at the dinner table.” Violet giggles at the nickname I give our mother, and we head into the dining room.
Dinner tastes good, a lamb roast with all the trimmings obviously not cooked by Mom, but the conversation is practically putting me to sleep. All Dad wants to talk about is the new shipment of first editions that came into the library. Mom watches me during dessert as I spoon tiramisu into my mouth.
“How is school, Violet?” Mom asks, still looking at me.
“Oh, school is good,” she responds, toying with her dessert. “I’m thinking of becoming a student librarian.”
“That’s wonderful! Isn’t that wonderful, Lilith?” Dad suddenly perks up.
“Yes, Asher. But I was hoping Violet may join the fencing club.” I scoff quietly, but apparently not quietly enough. “Is there a problem, Mira?” Mom asks.
“Violet hates fencing. Just because you were in the fencing club doesn’t mean she will be,” I tell her.
“Well, I just thought I may have some say in her education, she is my daughter.” She gives me a pointed look.
“No, Mom. You don’t get a say in Violet’s education. I’m her guardian so the choice is mine. You signed her over to me.” Violet tenses in the seat opposite me. We rarely talk about Violet’s guardianship. She’s practically my daughter, given that I raised her from the age of three. Mom was too busy to raise another child, Dad too obsessed with his books to even notice another child had been born, and they were more than happy for me to take over at the time, only now it seems to bite me in the ass.
“Mira, the way you come here every Friday night and act like you don’t want to be-”
“Because I don’t want to be here!” I cut her off. She glares at me.
“If you don’t want to be here, you know where the door is.” She explains coolly. “But I expect a check covering the twenty thousand dollars you owe me.” I watch as Violet looks up sharply. She’s too clever, she knows how much her school tuition is.
“Mira?” She whispers, looking at me. She’s figured it out. Gods, she’s figured out the deal. I can’t look at her anymore.
“Violet, we’re leaving,” I tell her, maintaining eye contact with our mother. “Get your coat.” Violet gets up from the table and heads into the foyer.
“You had no right,” I hiss at her. “Now, we will see you next Friday, but right now I am taking Violet home.”
Violet is waiting for me in the car, her arms wrapped around her as we make the drive home in silence. How dare Mom bring up our agreement when she knows I didn’t tell Violet! I raised her. Me! Not Mom and Dad, they barely noticed when she was born. Was I wrong not to tell her? How pissed is she gonna be when I explain myself. Should I have to explain myself? My spiralling thoughts are all that fills my head as I make the drive back to Stars Hollow.
When we get there, Violet goes straight to her room. I sigh and head upstairs to change out of the dress I have to wear for dinners with Mom. Violet’s waiting for me on the couch when I come back down.
“Vi?” I ask her quietly. She’s also changed into comfier clothes and is hugging a pillow to her stomach.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” There are tears in her eyes. “All this time I thought you were trying to get along with Mom.”
“Vi, sweetie, you didn’t need to know, okay? I made a deal with Mom, I borrowed some money to pay for your school and in return I agreed we would have dinner with Mom and Dad every week.”
“You should have told me.” I sit next to my baby sister and put my arm around her.
“Some things are just better that way, Vi. I didn’t want to get your hopes up, I know how much you like spending time with Dad.” Violet cuddles into my side.
“Why don’t they ever visit?” She asks, barely containing her disappointment. I sigh.
“When Mom was still working, you were unexpected. She left you with the nanny, who was more suited to me at 15 than you as a newborn.” I take in a breath, remembering all the nights I spent with a newborn Violet. All the times I was up at 2am feeding her a bottle, the months she kept me awake all night with colic, then going to school the next morning and falling sleep in study hall. “I took care of you, and Mom and I never got along, so when I was 18 I left, and I took you with me. At the time, she didn’t care about signing you over to me, she willingly made me your guardian.” I swallow, wondering if that was the best way to word it. “As you got older she thought I stole you from her, robbed her of raising another child and getting it right with you. So, when we moved to this house I never gave her the address. She never asked for it either. That’s why she doesn’t visit.” I hear quiet sniffles and feel my shirt getting damp. I cuddle my sister closer, the same way I’ve done since she was born.
“She loves you, Vi. She’s just not sure how to show that love, and paying for Chilton was a way to do that.” I feel her nodding against my shoulder. “Now, how do you feel about some ice cream? I think there’s some in the freezer.”
“Ice cream sounds good.” The words are muffled.
“Okay, well how about you grab the ice cream and I’ll find a movie.” Violet nods and I smile at her. “It’ll be okay, Vi. Mom will calm down and we’ll see her next week. Right now, ice cream and a movie.” She nods again, and gets up to get the ice cream.