Chapter 1

1

Dad always had a flair for the dramatic. When he heard his high school sweetheart had passed, he went completely off the rails. He donated his entire stock portfolio �C every single penny! �C and decided to become a monk. Left Mom high and dry with me and my little brother, practically homeless.

Mom, though, she's a freaking superhero. She started from zero, collecting cans, flipping burgers at the county fair… worked her tail off. She not only kept a roof over our heads, but she opened her own diner, "Mom's Home Cookin'," bought a decent house in the suburbs.

The day we moved into that house, the guy who abandoned us ten years ago showed up on the doorstep. He had cancer, and he wanted us to pay for his treatment.

...

I was at my desk, trying to meet a deadline, when Aunt Carol called.

"Honey, guess what? Your father's back! Aren't you just thrilled?"

Carol's voice was dripping with fake excitement, and my stomach dropped.

That man, ten years ago, he ditched his family to run off and "find himself" after some old flame died. Now, why was he suddenly back?

My throat tightened. "Where is he?"

"He's practically at your place! After all these years, you must be dying to see your dad! Don't worry, your dad is here to stay this time. Your family is finally reunited, come home quickly, Mallory!"

I hung up, my head spinning. Did Mom know about this?

She's the kindest person on the planet, too forgiving. It took her years to recover after Dad split, and she's finally built a good life. I couldn't let him mess it up again.

I dialed Mom's number, hoping to catch her before it was too late.

I could hear her haggling over prices at the farmer's market, her voice cheerful.

"Mal, honey, I'm right in the middle of things. What's up?"

Relief washed over me. She didn't know yet. There was still time.

I had to get rid of him before she got home.

"Mom, I'm craving lobster mac and cheese. Could you pick up a couple of pounds when you're done? The big ones."

"Lobster, huh? Those prices are always crazy, but okay, I'll see what I can find."

"Thanks, Mom. No rush."

I hung up, told my boss I had a family emergency, and grabbed a rideshare home.