Persistent preference

Summary

The day my parents agreed to a “separation in place,” they made only one rule.

Dad was in charge of my brother, Leo. Mom was in charge of me.

From that day on, my dad treated my brother like a prince, showering him with time and money.

For me, he had only one cold, dismissive sentence:

“Go ask your mother.”

But my mom was just as bad, fussing over the new fall wardrobe Leo needed.

“Leo’s still so young,” she’d say. “Even though your father and I are separated, Leo is still my baby.”