To My Half-Sister


Dear Sally,

If I could tell you one thing, it would be that I knew. Why do you think your family remained with us? If I had really resented the fact that you and your siblings were my half-siblings, would I have given you all such preferable roles at Monticello? Don’t underestimate the sway I had over my husband’s actions…at least, some of the time.

I chose my battles. Thomas never married anyone again – guess who influenced that decision? Don't get any ideas about what you meant to him. Even though I could never give him a son, I compel you to remember who his real children, his real wife, were. You may have thought you won him over or manipulated him to free your children after your time living recklessly in Paris, but I hope you remember that I was the one who truly wrote the rules of his game.

I hope you are doing well – last I checked, things weren’t so great at Monticello.

-Martha


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