Chapter 4 - Five Ringing Phones
After Gabriela made the calls, she and Willow left the supermarket without the doll.
She did not stop to argue. She did not look back when Vanessa shouted her name. She simply guided Willow through the checkout area and into the parking lot.
Inside the car, Willow sat quietly.
Gabriela knelt beside the open door.
“What Grandpa said was wrong.”
Willow stared at her shoes. “Does he hate me?”
Gabriela’s heart broke, but she kept her voice steady.
“He does not know how to love people properly. That is his failure, not yours.”
“Was I a mistake?”
“No.” Gabriela touched Willow’s cheek. “You are the best decision I ever made.”
Willow leaned into her arms.
Across the parking lot, the family burst through the supermarket doors. Ronald held his phone. Vanessa still carried the doll. Janice and Peter were both staring at their screens.
The account freeze had begun.
Ronald’s card was declined at the pharmacy.
Vanessa’s luxury car payment failed.
Peter’s club account was suspended.
Janice’s household allowance disappeared.
Even Piper’s school tuition payment had been stopped, though Gabriela planned to handle the child’s education separately so Piper would not suffer for the adults’ behavior.
Ronald reached Gabriela’s car first.
“You are throwing a tantrum.”
“No,” Gabriela said. “I am ending one.”
“You cannot abandon your responsibilities.”
Gabriela looked at him through the open door.
“You called my child a mistake while wearing a watch I bought you.”
Ronald glanced at the expensive watch on his wrist.
May you like
Gabriela closed the car door.
For the first time in her life, she drove away while her father was still talking.
