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one
Emily
“A fucking tiara,” I snarled at the sparkly band of jewels. It didn’t take a genius to see that my mother had something up her sleeve. When I got out of the shower, there was a baby pink chiffon dress with ruffles around the neckline and down the skirt. A matching pair of kitten heels laid next to it and diamond jewelry that cost more than most people’s mortgages waiting on my bed. This is not my style and my mother knows that. She stopped caring about what I wanted a long time ago. Of course she would, because this is exactly what she would wear. To land a husband. That is what tonight is really about. Landing me a rich husband that she deems acceptable. Because fuck what I wanted to do with my life. Nope, sorry Emily, but all you are good for is getting married and pumping out a few kids. You want to be a photojournalist, sorry not going to happen. How are you going to take care of your husband and your kids if you are working? It’s just a silly hobby. I can hear my mother’s hurtful words in my head. The anger burning through me like hot embers.
I stuff down the anger and get dressed in the outfit chosen by my mother. Minus the tiara. No chance in hell I will put that damn thing on my head. “Just get through tonight, then you can escape for good,” I remind myself. I’m done. Done with this vapid life. Done with these awful parties. And done with my mother and her close minded demands. No longer will she be able to hold my trust fund over my head to get me to do what she wants. I don’t need my parents’ money. For the past year, I have made money on my own. Traveling around the world. Taking pictures and selling them to National Geographic. I have newspapers and travel magazines sending me job offers to come work for them. Proof that this is not some silly hobby. None of that will matter to my mother. Which is why it is time I follow in my brother Sam’s footsteps and cut ties with our parents.
“Emily, come on, everyone is here.” My mother’s shrill voice announces as she walks through my bedroom door. She stops in front of me. Looking me up and down with judgment in her eyes. Her hands fluff my hair and she says, “Martha did a wonderful job taming this unruly hair of yours.” She moves my brown locks over my shoulders, then adjusts the necklace around my neck. “You look lovely, Emily.” She turns on her expensive heels and heads for the door. Ordering me to follow her. I plaster on my best fake smile and follow her downstairs.
Standing at the top of the stairs, I look out at the guests mingling just below me. Having the same boring conversations while sipping on expensive champagne. My mother looks up at me with a warning glare. I join her at the bottom of the stairs. She leans into my ear and says, “Behave.” In a blink of an eye, her demeanor shifts into hostess mode. Bright beaming smile and calming voice to converse with her guests. It’s all just a façade. That is one thing I hate about this world. You have to look a certain way and act a certain way to impress people who will judge you no matter what. It’s all just a game for these people. A game I don’t want any part of.
My mother drags me around the room. Showing me off to all her rich friends. My father is nowhere to be seen. My guess is he’s locked away in his office working. Not even his daughter coming home can get him to stop working. We make our way to the living room. Surprisingly, my father is there waiting for us. We join him by the fireplace. My mother gets the crowd to quiet down. Here we go, another one of her pompous speeches.
“Richard and I want to say we are so glad you could join us on this special night.” Out of the corner of my eye, I notice another couple siding up to my mom. “We are so happy to have our Emily home from university.” What the hell? She told everyone I was still in school. Why am I surprised that she lied about what I was doing? She lies about why Sam never comes home anymore. It’s always he’s traveling or is working on a big case. When in reality he got sick of their bullshit and moved to Louisiana with his girlfriend. The girlfriend didn’t work out, but he is happier now than he has been in a long time.
“On to why we are really here. We are happy to announce the engagement.” My heart stops at the word engagement. Please tell me she didn’t do what I think she did. “Of our daughter, Emily, and Chester Campbell.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” The words come out before I can stop myself. I cannot believe she stooped this low. Forcing an engagement on me is a new fucking low.
She forcefully grabs my arm. “Emily, please calm down. You are embarrassing me. Your father and I were patient while you had your little fun. Now it’s time for you to grow up and do your duty for the family.” Her abrasive tone slices through me. Normally, I would cower and do as she says. She has gone too far this time.
“How much did I go for? A new yacht, a big business deal for dad. Come on, Barb, how much did I go for?” I raise my voice so everyone in the room can hear me. It’s about time they see the true side of our family.
“That’s enough Emily. You are embarrassing yourself and your fiancé.” She turns to the crowd with a smile on her face. “Sorry everyone, Emily is still feeling a little out of sorts. You know how it can be with those international flights.” Her attention turns back to me. The smile on her face wavering. “You are going to keep your mouth shut and go along with this engagement because it is your duty to this family.”
“This engagement is not happening.” Feeling bold and brave, I add, “And as far as my duty to this family goes, you can take it and shove it up your ass.” I turn on my expensive heels and walk away.
Before I can make it to the stairs a hand grabs me by the arm. Yanking me to a stop. I glance over my shoulder and am met by the angered stare of my mother. “You are not going anywhere, you ungrateful little brat,” she spats. “You are going to get your ass back in there and put a damn smile on your face and pose for pictures with your fiancé, or so help me, Emily, I will cut you off.” Her threat falls flat.
“I’m not going back in there.” I yank my arm free from her tight grip. “And as far as dad’s money goes, I don’t need it and I sure as hell don’t need you.”
My feet carry me up the stairs and to my room. The door slams behind me as I kick off my shoes and rip off my dress. I yank the necklace off. Sending diamonds flying across the space. Slipping on a pair of jeans and a sweater, I grab my duffle bag and backpack out of my closet.
As I am almost done packing my bags, I hear a knock on my door. I ignore it and zip my bag closed. The door opens and I look up to see my dad walking in. Rarely does my mom has to send my dad up here. She is pulling out the big guns. It will not work. Unlike my brother, I’m not scared of my dad. Years of him ignoring me will do that.
“I’m not going back down there, dad. You can threaten me all you want. Like I told mom, I don’t need your money or this family.” I say, grabbing my camera bag from my desk.
“Emily, I’m not here to force you to go back downstairs. I’m here to give you these.” He holds his hand out to me. Laying on his palm is a set of car keys. The gesture takes me by surprise. “Leave the car in the parking garage at the airport. I’ll have it picked up later.” He has me even more confused.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask, taking the keys from him.
“I know this is a little too late. Considering how I have turned a blind eye to your mother’s behavior and turned my back on your brother.” Accountability, another thing I was not expecting to come from my father. I can see the guilt and regret in his eyes. He has lost his son and now he is losing his daughter. Both of them need to know this is what happens when you try to push your children into a life they don’t want. “You and your brother deserve the life you want.” Maybe there’s a part of my dad that still cares for his kids.
“I’ll distract your mother while you escape.”
“Thank you, dad.”
He turns and walks for the door. He stops at the threshold and turns back. For the first time in my twenty-two years, I am seeing genuine emotion on my father’s face. Sadness and regret. But deep in his eyes, I can see love shining through. “I love you, Emily.” My eyes go wide at the statement. He has never said that to me before. Maybe Sam’s leaving had an actual effect on him. Before I can say anything, he disappears through the door. I lock those four words into my memory and finish packing. Ready to take control of my life.
two
Russell
“You know you dumb asses are going to have to clean all that shaving cream, right?” Sullivan and Stevens ignore my warning and continue to fill the rookie Andersons’ locker with the goo. This is pretty tame compared to the hazing I received when I started at station 12. Bastards got my ass hammered the night before. Stole my clothes and left me passed out and naked on the front lawn of the station.
I grab my duffle bag and slam my locker closed, and walk towards the door. “Might want to use the back door. We rigged a confetti cannon,” Sullivan calls out a warning. I work with children.
The sun is peeking over the horizon when I step outside. Coloring the sky in shades of pink, orange, and golden yellow. Mother nature sure is pretty. Walking out to the parking lot, I catch my buddy Patrick heading to the front door of the station. I jog up to catch him and warn him of the shenanigans going on inside.
