- 2.
“You’re crazy,” Jack roared. He wanted to tell
me to get lost, but Dad cut him off before he
could.
“Jack, shut your mouth.” My dad said, softly.
Then, to me, “Lily, you and Sarah were both
victims of a terrible mistake. It wasn’t her fault.
She’s grown up to be a kind, loving girl, and
she’d make a great sister. Maybe you can try to accept her…”
“Kind? Loving? Mr. Sutton, do you really know
your daughter?” I shot back, making a double meaning. My dad and Sarah’s faces both
tightened at that.
“If you want Sarah, that’s fine, I’ll leave. You can all be a happy family.”
“Even though I’m only seventeen and technically a minor, I can go to Child Protective Services.
I’ll tell them I’m an orphan and that my foster
parents were monsters. I’ll be in foster care
until I turn eighteen.”
“Absolutely not!” my mom cried. “You have
parents! And the system is awful! You’d be
living in horrible conditions!”
“Someone has to leave, doesn’t she?” I said
with a half–smile. “Which one will it be?”
<
My mom’s face went pale. How had everything.
spun so out of control? She had planned this.
Both Sarah and Lily were supposed to be her
daughters, and they’d grow up together.
“Lily, honey, I will treat you both equally.” Mom
choked out.
That didn’t work with me. Equal treatment isn’t
what I was after. I was there to grab all the love
for myself. I turned around and started towards
the door when my dad suddenly spoke. “Lily,
stay.”
“Honey…”
“Dad…
“Daddy!”
Three voices rose in disbelief. I felt a small
smile creep up my face. My dad had already
read the report on my adoption, and everything
that happened in my foster home. I knew my
mom hadn’t read it yet.
<
“I’ll send Sarah away,” Dad agreed, his voice
full of regret, “but I need time.”
Sarah burst into tears. “Daddy, are you sending
me away?”
Dad didn’t answer. I looked at him, not backing
down, “Sarah has to go before I’ll ever consider
staying. Mr. Sutton, I want a result within three
days. If you don’t contact me by then, I’ll
assume I’ve been rejected. You will never hear
from me again.”
Then I walked away, leaving the Suttons‘ house.
without looking back. My dad was worried
about me and had his driver take me to a hotel.
…I didn’t refuse Dad’s offer. His money was,
after all, rightfully mine until I was an adult. But
I didn’t want to stay at the hotel. As soon as the
driver left, I went straight to the apartment that
Jay had rented for me. It was the only place I
could let down my guard and just breathe.
<
I had just stepped out of the shower, my hair still wet, when Jay came home. His eyes
instantly softened when he saw me. He grabbed a hairdryer and a towel to protect my shoulders
while he dried my hair.
He pulled out ointment for my chapped hands, taking my hand and gently applying the medicine. “Those dog–trash foster parents, I’m gonna get them, sooner or later.”
I knew Jay’s soft heart was hidden behind all
the violent talk. When I had saved Jay from drowning fifteen years ago, he’d said he owed
me his life.
I gently touched his red ear. “Of course, they’ll
pay, they all will.”
He suddenly hugged me tight. “Lily, I’ve told
you, whatever you decide to do, I will support
you.”
I knew he meant it. Me, Jay, and Katie, threet
kids with nothing, had always stuck together.
Even though Katie was gone, I wasn’t going to
let her have died for nothing.
I’d make everyone who hurt her pay. And this
was my and Jay’s plan, too. Returning to the
Sutton’s was just one part of it.
How else would my parents have found out that
they raised the wrong daughter? And that their
real daughter was suffering? My foster mom’s
kick and slap sure came at the perfect time.
They worked wonders on my parents‘ guilt.
My dad didn’t make me wait for three days. He
was afraid I would change my mind. On the
second day, he called and told me he was
coming to get me. I went from the apartment to
the hotel.
The Suttons‘ car was waiting at the hotel
entrance. I saw my dad get out of the car,
locking older and fiend
<
looking older and tired.
“Lily, Sarah moved out this morning. She’s
staying at another property for the time being.
She has been the Suttons‘ daughter for fifteen
years. We can’t just forget about her.”
“But I promise you, I won’t let her disturb you.
When Sarah graduates from high school, we’ll
give her some money, and she can live
overseas.”
“Your mom is trying, slowly she will move on.
from her. Mom will start to feel that she doesn’t
love her as much as she does you.”
Dad explained his plan for Sarah, and I didn’t
say a word, but didn’t stop him from leading me
to the car.
“Where is Mrs. Sutton?” I asked.
Dad looked embarrassed, probably afraid of
<
upsetting me. “Your mom wanted to come get
you, but Sarah was crying this morning, so she
went to the other house to be with her. But,
don’t worry, your mom will be back for lunch,
and then we will have a family lunch together.
