They Never Picked Up My Calls, So I Made Dolls That Answer novel · Chapter 18 of 24

Chapter 18: Homecoming

Mom turned around.

People were coming out of the pitch room behind Dad.

Two board members.

A reporter with a notebook.

Brightwater's CEO on his phone.

They all stopped.

"Not here," Mom said to him, low.

"Yes. Here." Dad's voice wasn't loud anymore. It was worse. It was steady. "You told me it was her grades. Eight years ago. You sat on our bed and told me Elsie was too much for Gracie, and I believed you, because believing you was easier than asking."

"I protected this family."

"You protected yourself. And I let you. I signed the lease on that studio. I stopped paying it when you told me to." He took his glasses off his head and folded them. "I'm done covering for you. Whatever the foundation asks me, whatever the lawyers ask me, I'm going to tell them the truth."

Mom stared at him.

"After thirty years."

"After thirty years," Dad said.

She looked at the reporter.

At the board members.

At me.

The elevator chimed.

She stepped in alone.

The doors closed on her face, and for once I wasn't the one leaving.

Dad turned to me.

He looked older than he had an hour ago. His eyes were red.

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