Chapter 13
Mom called twenty-seven times that night.
I did not answer.
She texted.
You embarrassed me.
Richard is furious.
Stephen wants an explanation.
Your father manipulated you.
We need to talk as a family.
I stared at the last message.
As a family.
That word had been used like a rope my whole life.
Family means don’t ask.
Family means forgive quietly.
Family means protect adults from consequences.
I texted back once.
I am with Dad. Do not contact me tonight.
Then I turned off my phone.
Dad and I stayed at a cheap motel because he was too tired to drive four hours back.
He insisted I take the bed.
I insisted he take it.
We compromised badly.
I took one side.
He took the other.
Like when I was little and thunderstorms scared me.
Before sleep, he whispered, “I’m sorry today was hard.”
I looked at the ceiling.
“It was honest.”
May you like
He was quiet.
Then said, “That too.”
