Chapter 6: The Call
I packed fast, my hands moving on autopilot. I tossed our clothes into the suitcases, grabbed Lily’s favorite books and drawings, stuffed our birth certificates, divorce papers, and my laptop into the outer pocket. I made sure Mr. Floppy was right on top, where Lily could reach him. My mom stood in the bedroom doorway, arms crossed, watching me like I was throwing a tantrum I’d regret later. My dad leaned against the wall, still smirking.
“Go on then,” Mom called after me as I walked past them into the hallway. “Sleep in your car. See how long you last without us to hold your hand. You’ll be back before sunset, begging for your room back.”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t look back. I unlocked the front door, stepped out into the bright morning sun, and locked it behind me—like I was locking the door on that whole part of my life forever.
I buckled Lily into her car seat in the back of my beat-up old sedan. She was quiet, her eyes red and puffy, clutching Mr. Floppy so tight her knuckles turned white. She stared up at the house through the rearview mirror, then down at her lap, and didn’t say a word.
I leaned against the driver’s door, took a deep breath, and looked up at that faded American flag fluttering above the porch one last time. Then I pulled up my contacts, scrolled past “Mom” and “Dad” and all the names I’d never call again, and tapped the one I’d saved three days earlier—the one I’d never thought I’d actually have the courage to dial.
Uncle Ray.
I hit call.
It rang twice. Then a warm, familiar voice picked up, sounding like he’d been waiting for this exact call for a long time. “Amanda? Finally. I’ve been sitting here with these papers for three days, wondering if you’d ever reach out.”
I looked back up at the house. My parents were still standing in the kitchen window, watching me like I was some kind of joke they’d laugh about later over dinner.
“Uncle Ray,” I said, my voice steady even though my heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. “I’m ready to take what’s mine.”
Ray paused for a second. Then he said, quiet and serious, “Good. Because I’ve got the original will right here. Your grandfather left you everything. And your parents have been stealing from you for ten whole years.”
