The Suitcase They Threw Out, The Ticket I Bought To Leave Chapter 05

The Suitcase They Threw Out, The Ticket I Bought To Leave Chapter 05

Halfway home, Dad and Mom had skipped driving straight back. They’d detoured out to William B.

Umstead State Park instead.

Mom, haughty and self-satisfied, had said, “We finally dropped Nana off at college. Our job’s done. No more stress over her schoolwork. We can finally relax and sleep in.”

They were curled up in their hotel king-size bed, sleeping in.

The phone rang multiple times before Dad groggily answered. “Hello? What’s going on?”

Hunter’s thoughts were scattered, barely able to form coherent sentences. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the phone, until he forced out full words. “Uncle Jude. Wally… Wallace is gone”

“What?” Dad frowned, sitting upright. He recognized Hunter’s voice and refused to believe it. “Hunter, it’s first day at Duke. What are you talking about?”

“It’s real!” Hunter’s panic spiked. “I couldn’t get a hold of her since yesterday. I asked the OL at Experiential Orientation today-she’s not assigned to any group.”

“Uncle Jude, are you positive Wally got into Duke? What if she ran off because she was upset…”

Panic tightened his chest.

His eyes stung. His legs buckled underneath him, and nearby students rushed to help him into the campus infirmary.

Dad’s sleepiness vanished, yet he still refused to take it seriously. “Don’t overreact. Wally’s always

been self-sufficient. She can take care of herself. About Duke…”

He recalled that both acceptance letters bore the same university seal. Back then he’d only celebrated Nadia, barely glancing atWallace’s paperwork. A flicker of guilt pricked him.

“She definitely got accepted. She’d agreed to come with us right before move-in. We just couldn’t

fit her in the car because of Nana’s luggage. You don’t think she’s throwing a fit over that and

hiding?”

Irritation crept into his tone. “Wallace has always been difficult. She loves making everyone

worry.”

Mom stirred, roused by the noise, annoyed. “What could have possibly happened to Wallace? She’s

an adult. She’s just hiding somewhere like she always does. All over some tiny little drama.”

“Hunter, forget about her. Whether she shows up at Duke or disappears entirely is none of our concern. Adults have to face the consequences of their own choices.”

Dad thought her words were harsh, even if part of him agreed. He sighed and stepped into the bathroom, still clutching the phone.

“Hunter, your aunt may sound harsh, but Wallace can be stubborn. There’s only so much we as parents can do.

“You two are close. Text her, try to calm her down. Your aunt and I are worn out from these past few

days. We have work waiting back home; we don’t have time to go chasing her.”

Every word was polite, yet completely detached.

Hunter’s heart turned cold. “Uncle Jude, can’t you see how differently you treat Nadia versus

Wally? If Nadia went missing, you would drop everything. If you won’t look for her, I will.”

Dad sat stunned. Before he could reply, the call cut off.

A stranger cared more for Wallace than her own father. A pang of guilt gnawed at him.