My Family’s Suitcase Was Always Too Small for My Future Chapter 02

My Family’s Suitcase Was Always Too Small for My Future Chapter 02

“She just wants to borrow a suitcase. Why do you have to be so selfish?”

“You can’t even lend your sister one thing? What kind of family is this?”

“I need it.”

This time, I didn’t back down.

“Whatever. If she doesn’t want to share, fine.”

Tessa’s voice came from behind them, thick with tears.

Mom and Dad wrapped their arms around her, murmuring like she was the one who’d been wronged.

Grant held my gaze for a long second. Then he disappeared into his room.

He came back with a sky-blue suitcase.

“Tessa, you can use this one.”

My grip tightened on the doorknob. I’d given him that suitcase.

Tessa knew exactly what it was. She looked right at me.

“Are you sure? Maren might not like that.”

Grant didn’t flinch. He knew exactly what he was doing.

I cut in.

“It’s fine. I gave it to him. It’s his.”

The room went silent.

Grant’s eyes snapped to mine, a frown crossing his face.

But he didn’t say a word. He took Tessa with him and left.

Nobody called me for dinner. By the time I came out, they were deep in conversation.

“Warm greige. It’s cozy, it’s classy. That’s my pick.”

Grant chimed in without missing a beat.

“Pearl white’s more modern, though. Clean lines, easy on the eyes.”

Tessa bit into a rib, grinning.

“I don’t care what you guys do with the rest of the house. My room is mine.”

Dad had stayed out of it, busy with his plate. Then he caught sight of me.

He coughed. The conversation died.

They’d bought a new house. I was the only one who didn’t know.

I sat down and picked at the closest dish. Every bite went down like broken glass.

Mom and Dad traded a look, and Mom spoke first, carefully.

“We bought a new house, Maren. The rooms are already set up. You should come see it when you get a chance.”

I swallowed hard.

“When did you buy it?”

“Six months ago. We just… never found the right time to tell you.”

I knew the difference between never finding the right time and never wanting to.

I nodded. Then, before I could stop myself…

“What’s the door code?”

“090716.”

Grant’s birthday and Tessa’s. Put together.

I looked up at Mom.

“Mom, when’s my birthday?”

Mom blinked. She looked confused.

“What? Did you forget your own birthday?”

Dad laughed, like he actually thought I had.

“Blizzard of the decade. Your mom slipped on the ice and went into early labor. Nearly killed her.” He chuckled. “She always says you came out fighting her from day one.”

Mom coughed, her smile thinning. She looked away.

“Why are you bringing that up?”

I dropped my eyes. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking.

Grant and Tessa finished eating and disappeared to their rooms.

Dad left. Mom stood up right behind him.

“Last one finished does the dishes, Maren.”

She walked out without looking back.

The table was a mess. Everyone’s plates, everyone’s scraps.

I was always last. Because no one ever told me dinner was ready.

Mom called for Grant. Dad called for Tessa. By the time I sat down, half the food was gone.

So the dishes were always mine.

I was elbow-deep in suds when Grandpa FaceTimed Mom. She put him on speaker.

“Grant tells me you’re all heading to the Silver Coast.”

“That’s right. Want us to bring you anything?”

Grandma laughed it off. “Oh, don’t worry about me.”

“What about Maren? She’s not going?”

Mom didn’t miss a beat.

“Oh, she’s not going. She wanted to work, get some experience.”

“That girl…” Grandpa sighed, but he didn’t push it.

He’d heard the same thing for four years. They all had.

“Isn’t Maren going to the amusement park?”

“No, she’s staying home to study.”

“Isn’t Maren going skiing?”

“She’s not into sports.”

“Maren’s not in the family photos?”

“She’s been breaking out, so she didn’t want to be in front of a camera.”

…

In the story they told, I was the boring one. The loner. The girl who never wanted anything.

That way, no one would ever speak up for me. Why would they? They all thought I chose this.