Seth answered:
Yeah. Call it even.
I reread his response three times.
Fifty hours every week.
Nearly a year of supervising three children, preparing meals, changing diapers, organizing naps, handling laundry, and managing school pickups.
No income, retirement contributions, or professional advancement.
All to spare Seth from repaying his sister.
I returned the phone.
“Did you know how much I make at the clinic?”
Heather hesitated.
“Not exactly.”
“Did you know I’d been there almost seven years?”
“Yes.”
“Then how did you think I could afford to quit?”
She pressed her lips together.
“Seth said you’d both planned for it.”
“With what money?”
She remained silent.
I leaned back.
“Six thousand four hundred dollars,” I said.
Heather looked miserable.
“I know how it sounds.”
“Do you?”
Her eyes filled.
“That’s not fair, Natalie. I honestly thought you wanted this.”
I faced her.
“Did you ever ask yourself why someone would give up a full-time job to watch three children for free?”
