Chapter 3 - THE HOUSE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PAID OFF
Emily drove to Diane's house alone.
Daniel wanted to come.
She refused.
“This is my family.”
Daniel didn't argue.
He simply said,
“Call me if anything feels wrong.”
Emily arrived at 9:42.
Diane was waiting on the porch.
She looked furious.
“You did this.”
Emily stepped out of the car.
“Good morning to you too.”
“Don't play innocent.”
“I want answers.”
“You're punishing me because of yesterday.”
“No.”
Emily closed the car door.
“I'm trying to understand what happened.”
Diane crossed her arms.
“You stopped everything.”
“I didn't know I was paying for everything.”
Diane's expression flickered.
That was enough.
Emily noticed.
“You knew.”
“I knew you helped.”
“How much?”
Diane looked away.
“Don't interrogate me.”
“How much?”
“Your brother handled most of it.”
Emily stared at her.
“Ryan?”
“He said you wanted him to manage things.”
“I never told him that.”
Diane became defensive.
“What's the difference?”
“The difference is that I never authorized him to use my money however he wanted.”
Diane stepped closer.
“You're my daughter.”
“That doesn't give you permission to take from me.”
“You owe me.”
Emily's face changed.
“Owe you what?”
“For raising you.”
The words landed heavily.
Emily had heard them before.
But never like this.
She looked at the house.
Then at her mother.
“I've spent my adult life trying to repay a debt you keep increasing.”
Diane's expression hardened.
“You think you're better than us now.”
“No.”
Emily shook her head.
“I think I finally understand us.”
Diane said nothing.
Emily walked past her.
Inside the house, everything looked normal.
Too normal.
Then Emily noticed a framed photograph on the hallway wall.
Her mother.
Ryan.
Melissa.
And a man Emily didn't recognize.
The photograph was recent.
Emily pointed.
“Who is that?”
Diane immediately stepped in front of it.
“No one.”
Emily looked at her.
“Mom.”
“It's none of your business.”
Emily took a step closer.
“Then why is he standing inside this house?”
Diane's face had gone pale.
Before Emily could ask another question, a car pulled into the driveway.
Ryan stepped out.
He looked exhausted.
And frightened.
He hurried inside.
“Emily, we need to talk.”
She turned.
“About the house?”
Ryan froze.
Then he looked at Diane.
Diane looked at him.
Something passed between them.
Emily saw it.
May you like
They were both hiding something.
And whatever it was had started long before yesterday.
