Chapter 2 - THE LOCKED DOOR
The front door slammed hard enough to rattle the glass in my mother's china cabinet.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Emma was still crying against my chest.
James came to me immediately.
His entire expression changed when he looked at her.
The rigid command disappeared.
He touched one finger to Emma's cheek.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
His voice softened.
“Daddy's here.”
Emma grabbed his finger.
Something in James's face tightened.
“Is there a mark?”
“I don't know.”
My hands were shaking too badly to check.
James gently moved Emma's face toward the light.
The cheek was pink.
No swelling.
No obvious bruise.
But I could still hear the slap in my head.
“We're getting her checked,” he said.
Mom finally looked up.
“Do you really need to take her to a doctor? Lauren said it wasn't hard.”
James turned slowly.
My mother shrank back.
I stared at her.
“Did you seriously just say that?”
“I didn't mean—”
“She hit your granddaughter.”
“I know.”
“No, Mom. I don't think you do.”
Dad put his napkin on the table.
“We're all upset.”
James gave a humorless laugh.
“No. We're not.”
Dad frowned.
“Excuse me?”
“My wife is upset. My daughter is terrified. I'm furious.”
He looked around the table.
“The rest of you seem mostly uncomfortable that someone finally told Lauren no.”
Nobody answered.
The words landed because they were true.
Painfully true.
My entire childhood had revolved around keeping Lauren calm.
Lauren wanted the front seat?
I moved.
Lauren wanted my birthday cake flavor changed?
Mom changed it.
Lauren threw a screaming fit because I won a school award?
We stopped talking about the award.
Whenever she exploded, everyone adjusted themselves around her.
It was easier.
That was always the excuse.
Easier.
I looked at my parents.
“What was she talking about?”
Mom blinked.
“What?”
“Before Lauren left.”
Mom's face lost color.
That was all I needed.
“You heard her.”
Dad stood.
“This isn't the time.”
“Then when?”
“Sarah.”
“What have you been hiding from me?”
“Nothing.”
“You're lying.”
My father's jaw tightened.
James stepped beside me.
Dad looked toward him.
“This is family business.”
James didn't flinch.
“My wife is my family.”
“That isn't what I meant.”
“I know exactly what you meant.”
Mom pushed her chair back.
“Please. Christmas is ruined enough.”
I almost laughed.
“Christmas is ruined?”
I held Emma closer.
“Your daughter just slapped a baby, but asking questions is what ruins Christmas?”
Mom closed her eyes.
“Sarah…”
“No.”
For the first time in my life, I wasn't going to make this easier for them.
“What did Lauren mean?”
My father looked at my mother.
That tiny glance said everything.
There was something.
“Tell me.”
Dad sighed.
“It concerns money.”
My stomach dropped.
“What money?”
Another silence.
Then Uncle Robert spoke from the far end of the table.
“Tom, just tell her.”
Dad shot him a look.
Robert leaned back.
“She deserves to know.”
“Know what?”
My father rubbed both hands across his face.
Then he looked at me.
“Your grandmother left you money when she died.”
I stared at him.
Grandma Evelyn had died four years earlier.
“I know. Five thousand dollars. I used it toward nursing school.”
Nobody moved.
Dad's eyes dropped.
“That wasn't all she left you.”
My heartbeat slowed.
“What do you mean?”
Mom started crying.
And that was when I knew whatever was coming next was worse than I imagined.
Dad whispered, “She left you one hundred and eighty thousand dollars.”
I couldn't breathe.
May you like
“And we gave most of it to Lauren.”
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