Chapter 2: The Secret Behind Red Creek
I didn't sleep that night.
The ruined dress lay inside a cardboard box beside my bedroom door. I couldn't bring myself to throw it away.
Every time I looked at it, I remembered Claire's expression.
She hadn't simply destroyed something expensive.
She had enjoyed watching me lose something I had worked for.
At around eleven, I heard voices coming from my parents' bedroom.
My father's voice was low.
My mother's was sharp.
“You cannot send her there, David.””
“I already made the offer.””
“She won't survive a week.””
“Then perhaps she should have thought about that before destroying her sister's property.””
Patricia lowered her voice.
“Claire has a future here. She has connections. She has a social life. You're going to ruin everything.””
My father answered without hesitation.
“She's twenty-six years old, Patricia. She has never held a job for longer than three weeks.””
“She doesn't need to work!””
“That's exactly the problem.””
I moved closer to the hallway.
My mother's voice became more desperate.
“You're punishing her because Emma cried over a dress?””
“No. I'm responding to something I've been ignoring for years.””
A door closed.
I returned to my bedroom before either of them could see me.
At seven the next morning, I found my father in the kitchen.
He was drinking black coffee and reviewing documents on his tablet.
“Good morning, sweetheart.””
“Morning, Dad.””
He looked at my face.
“Did you sleep?””
“A little.””
He put the tablet down.
“Come sit.””
I took the chair opposite him.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he reached across the table and covered my hand.
“I owe you an apology.””
I frowned.
“For what?””
“For not noticing how bad things had become.””
I looked down.
“It's okay.””
“No, it isn't.””
He leaned back.
“I've spent too much time building a company and not enough time looking at what was happening inside my own home.””
I didn't know what to say.
“Your mother tells me you two argue,” he continued.
“She never told me Claire was deliberately humiliating you. She never told me about the things you've lost.””
I swallowed.
“I didn't want to bother you.””
His expression softened.
“Emma, you're my daughter. You are never a bother.””
I felt my eyes sting.
He pushed a small envelope across the table.
Inside was a check for four hundred and eighty dollars.
I looked at him.
“Dad…”
“Buy another dress.””
I shook my head.
“I don't want you to replace it.””
“Why not?””
“Because I wanted to earn it myself.””
He studied me for a moment.
Then he nodded.
“Then don't spend the check. Keep it. Put it toward whatever you want after graduation.””
I smiled faintly.
“Thank you.””
He squeezed my hand.
“And Emma?””
“Yes?””
“Don't let anyone convince you that being kind means allowing people to hurt you.””
I nodded.
For the first time in months, I felt like someone had actually heard me.
But the peace didn't last.
At breakfast, Claire entered the kitchen wearing sunglasses and carrying a large coffee.
She dropped her phone onto the counter.
“I'm not going to Red Creek.””
My father didn't look up.
“Good morning to you too.””
“I'm serious.””
“So am I.””
Claire pulled out a chair.
“I called Jessica. She said I can stay with her in Buckhead.””
My father took another sip of coffee.
“That's fine.””
Claire blinked.
“Fine?””
“Yes.””
“You're not going to stop me?””
“No.””
She looked confused.
Then my father placed another document beside her coffee.
“Your current monthly allowance ends today. Your car insurance, apartment deposit fund, shopping account, and personal credit card payments will also end.””
Claire slowly removed her sunglasses.
“You can't do that.””
“I can. They're accounts I fund.””
“You're my father!””
“And you're an adult.””
My mother entered at that moment.
“David, stop humiliating her.””
He turned toward her.
“I'm not humiliating anyone. I'm explaining the consequences of refusing an opportunity.””
Claire pushed back her chair.
“Fine. I'll go.””
My father nodded.
“Your transportation leaves Friday morning.””
“Friday? That's in two days!””
“Yes.””
“I have plans!””
“Cancel them.””
Claire looked at me.
“This is what you wanted, isn't it?””
I stared at her.
“No, Claire. I wanted my dress.””
She scoffed.
“Don't pretend you're innocent. You've always wanted Dad to choose you.””
I felt my cheeks burn.
“Why would I want that?””
“Because you can't stand that I'm the favorite.””
My father put down his coffee.
“Claire, enough.””
She stood.
“You know what? I hope she enjoys her graduation. I hope everyone claps for her. Maybe then she'll finally feel important.””
She walked out.
My mother followed her.
I stayed at the table.
My father watched them disappear.
Then he opened his briefcase and removed a photograph.
It showed an older building with a faded blue roof. Several construction workers stood in front of it.
“Do you recognize this place?”” he asked.
I shook my head.
“Red Creek?””
He nodded.
“It's a small town about three hours from here. The company has been rebuilding homes there after a severe storm damaged several neighborhoods.””
He pointed to the photograph.
“This building used to be a community center. We're turning it into a temporary housing and training facility.””
“Why are you sending Claire there?””
He looked at me for a long moment.
“Because I think she needs to understand what it means to earn something.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Has she been there before?””
My father went quiet.
Then he said something unexpected.
“Claire was supposed to spend three months there last summer.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“She volunteered for the project. She told me she wanted to help coordinate the community outreach program.””
I couldn't believe it.
“Claire volunteered?””
“She did. I was proud of her.””
“What happened?””
My father closed the photograph album.
“She left after four days.””
“Why?””
He hesitated.
“That's something you'll need to ask your sister.””
I didn't get the chance.
That afternoon, I returned home from the café and found Claire sitting on my bed.
She was holding my phone.
“Give that back.””
She looked at the screen.
“Who is Daniel?””
I stopped.
Daniel was my father's longtime business partner.
“Why are you reading my messages?””
She smiled.
“Interesting. Very interesting.””
She tossed my phone onto the mattress.
“Dad thinks he's sending me to Red Creek to teach me responsibility.””
I picked up my phone.
“What about it?””
Claire leaned forward.
“Do you know what really happened there last summer?””
I didn't answer.
She lowered her voice.
“Your precious father isn't telling you everything.””
I crossed my arms.
“Then tell me.””
Claire smiled.
“Ask him why he never reported what happened to the company.””
My stomach tightened.
“What happened?””
Before she could answer, my father's voice came from the hallway.
“Claire.””
She stood immediately.
“Nothing, Dad.””
He entered the room.
His eyes moved from Claire to my phone.
“Get out.””
Claire grabbed her handbag.
As she passed him, she whispered:
“Tell Emma about the missing money.””
My father froze.
I looked between them.
“Missing money?””
Neither answered.
Then Claire walked away.
My father closed the bedroom door.
May you like
He looked older than he had that morning.
“Emma,” he said quietly, “there's something about your sister's last trip to Red Creek that you need to understand.””
