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“And I see that the answer is no. You don’t give a shit about me. You only care about how your image looks by association. I’m your daughter.” Her voice breaks, but she refuses to let any tears fall in front of them. “And you discarded me before I was even out of your house because I wasn’t like you. Wasn’t like Beth.” She shoots an apologetic look to her sister for bringing her up, but Beth watches her, silently letting her continue.
“I’m so sorry that I couldn’t be the perfect, righteous daughter you hoped for, I really am. But I’m also sorry for myself that you’re not the loving, supportive parents I hoped for either.” And with that, Scar turns on her heel and stalks toward the front of the restaurant.
I look around and everyone seems frozen for a moment. Christopher is watching the condensation drip down his glass like it’s the most fascinating thing he’s watched in his life. Beth is on the verge of tears. But her parents? Their faces are blank, as if nothing Scar just said to them is sinking in past their layer of piousness.
“It’s just like Elaine to make a scene,” her dad mutters, cutting another bite off of his steak.
“You’re a fucking asshole.” I laugh, no humor behind it and throw my napkin down, standing as well. “Not that I expected anything different, but I would’ve hoped that for both of your daughters’ sake, you could’ve treated Scar with even the smallest amount of respect. But I see that’s too much to ask for someone like you.” I push my chair in and look at her parents one last time.
“You don’t deserve Scar in your miserable, self-righteous lives. You don’t deserve to know her, or to feel the love she is capable of giving.” And with that, I turn on my heel and leave the table.
38
WALKER
I twist my head side to side, scanning the parking lot for Scar. Patting my pocket, I feel the car keys nestled inside so I know she couldn’t have driven off. But as I look and look and come up empty, my heart starts to race.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I open up my contacts and click on Scar’s name, bringing the phone to my ear and listening to it ring. I hold my breath, waiting for her answer, and curse when I get her voicemail.
“What the hell, Scar?” I mutter, hanging up and trying again.
The door to the restaurant pushes open behind and I spin around, hoping to see Scar emerge and maybe I just missed her walking out.
But it’s Beth.
“Where is she?” Beth asks, noticing Scar’s absence.
“I have no idea,” I tell her, still listening to Scar’s phone ringing and ringing.
Beth scans the lot as if she’ll suddenly appear. “She couldn’t have gotten far,” she offers, sensing my rising panic and trying to soothe it. “Did she take the car you came in?”
I shake my head, pulling the keys out of my pocket.
“Maybe she just needed a walk.”
I try not to scoff, knowing Beth is just trying to help. “It’s dark out. I know she’s familiar with the area, but it’s been a long time since she’s been here. I don’t like the idea of her wandering around by herself.”
Beth pulls out her phone, trying Scar’s number as soon as I hang up when I get her voicemail again.
I pull at my hair, enjoying the sting it brings, mind racing, trying to think of where she might’ve gone off to. She couldn’t have had more than a minute head start.
Beth’s mouth falls as she also gets her voicemail and I curse.
Where did you go, Scar…
“I’m sure she just needs a little time to cool off—” Beth says and I cut her off.
“You don’t get it. When we pulled in here, she was nervous and talking about how badly she wanted a drink—” I stop, trying to keep my frustration in check. “I’m sorry,” I tell Beth. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”
She gives me a tight smile. “You don’t need to apologize. I know you’re just concerned for her. As am I.”
We’re on the same side here, I realize. Scar may think that everyone in her family has discarded her, but Beth seems intent on maintaining a relationship with her.
“It’s just that I’m worried about her safety, walking around late at night like this. But also for her sobriety,” I trail off. She’s always seemed so strong in it, so steady, but today in the car was the first time she’s ever outright admitted to me that she was craving a drink and I begin to wonder how many times she may have felt that way inside but never said anything to me.
A ball of dread lodges itself in my throat. I need to find her.
And standing here staring at an empty parking lot isn’t going to do shit.
