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Suddenly, anger overcame me. Was that all he had to say after everything that had happened? After he stuck me with an unexpected tuition bill or ignored my calls and texts?

“Good to see you too,” I said before entering the house, kicking my shoes off in the foyer and dropping my bag onto a bench. I found Danielle in the living room with a large bucket of popcorn resting in her lap.

“I brought reinforcements,” she said, offering me the bucket. I waved her off. “Suit yourself.”

A few minutes later, we were all gathered in the living room. Dad cleared his throat and clapped.

“Thank you all for clearing your schedule to make time for your old man.”

“You’re not sick, are you?” Snoh asked curiously.

Dad chuckled. “No. I went to the doctor last month, and I have a clean bill of health.”

“Mind you, a clean bill of health to him is diabetes and gout,” Danielle teased.

“That’s enough out of you, Dani.”

“Then what is it?” I asked, scooting to the edge of the couch, unable to stand the suspense any longer.

He looked over our heads at a family portrait on the wall. He didn’t make eye contact with any of us, and I knew whatever he was about to say was bad.

“I sold the house.”

Family Fallout

Vera

“What did you just say?” Snoh barked as my heart clutched in my chest. Immediately, I observed the living room, eyes committing everything to memory—the fireplace where stockings used to hang, the curtains Mom nearly killed us over because someone wasted fruit punch on them, and framed family photos of smiling faces in dire need of dusting. Hell, I even looked up at the ceiling fan that gently whirled above our heads.

Everywhere I looked, there was something worth holding onto—things that would mean absolutely nothing to whoever lived there next.

“You sold our house?” I whispered, voice cracking on the syllables.

He nodded. “I sold the house.”

Snoh stood from the couch. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I needed the money,” Dad answered honestly, with a look that told us he wasn’t thrilled with his choice but had every right to make it.

“Of course,” Danielle scoffed, throwing her hands in the air.

“You didn’t think you needed to consult with us first?” Snoh pressed, his anger climbing by the second. My hand shot out and grabbed the back of his shirt as he stepped forward. He shot me a bitter glare.

I shook my head. “Don’t.”

“Well,” Danielle sighed, dragging herself up from the couch. “I guess I better go pack the rest of my shit.”

“Danielle,” Dad called after her.

She didn’t bother stopping and climbed the stairs two at a time. A few seconds later, her bedroom door slammed, and the sound ricocheted through the house. He flinched, and Snoh didn’t hesitate to chew him out.

“Don’t stand there looking shocked like you didn’t see this coming,” Snoh spat.

Dad clasped his hands together, then rubbed them anxiously.

“The three of you will receive wires tomorrow morning for $325,000.00; consider it an early inheritance.”

Snoh and I stared at him like he had three heads. He spoke to us like he was doing us a fucking favor, and that pissed me off.