Chapter 3

3

Saying that in front of everyone was like a slap in the face for Chrissy.

Mom had never even raised her voice to Chrissy before, so she stared with wide eyes, not believing what she was hearing.

Tears welled up instantly, and she whined, "Why? Mom, you've got to be mistaken. Why would I apologize to Ashley? And how can you say I'm someone else's daughter? You're hurting my feelings! I'll never forget what you said today!"

Mom didn't even bother to look at her. Her fingers trembled as she touched my face gently.

"It's okay, honey. Mom's going to make up for everything you went through. Come on, let's go home and talk."

Chrissy was practically grinding her teeth. She stomped her foot, watching me follow Mom to the car with pure hatred.

Even as the car started, Chrissy screamed, "I'm not coming home tonight! I'm going to run away and starve to death!"

But all she got back was the dust kicked up as the car drove off.

And she really didn't come home that night.

She even had the housekeeper tell Mom that she was staying with her boyfriend.

Before, Mom would have blown a gasket and demanded that they find her, even skipping dinner.

But this time, she told the housekeeper not to look for her.

Dad and Jake were both out on business, and Mom stared at the family picture on the wall for a long time, like she was in a trance.

Finally, she looked up, and her eyes were dark.

"Tell her that we support all her decisions from now on. It's just a boyfriend, whatever. As long as she's happy, let her do what she wants."

That night, Mom did something she never did, cooking all my favorite dishes and forcing a few black credit cards on me, telling me I could spend the money however I wanted.

The housekeeper winked, showing me the number 8 with her fingers. When I didn't get it, she mouthed, "Millions."

And Mom said, out of nowhere, that she knew everything that had happened.

"Ashley, give Mom a chance to make it up to you, my sweetheart."