My Family’s Suitcase Was Always Too Small for My Future Chapter 06

My Family’s Suitcase Was Always Too Small for My Future Chapter 06

Hallie held the pause a second too long, then changed the subject.

Two days after we settled in, we reported to the plant and started learning the ropes.

Within a week, we had the lay of the land.

But our supervisor kept warning us, stay out of certain neighborhoods. Don’t go out after dark. Don’t carry

anything worth stealing.

The cost of living was higher than I’d expected. But so was the pay. And there were real opportunities.

On day eight, Mom and Dad were heading home.

Tessa was whining in the group chat, teasing Dad.

[There was this super cute guy who asked for my number and Dad literally blocked me from giving it to him.

He’s so old-fashioned!]

Grant sent a facepalm reaction.

[You don’t know this guy. I’d have done the same thing.]

[I’m 23!!]

[Doesn’t matter. Any guy you date is getting vetted by me first.]

Tessa sent a crying reaction.

[I literally cannot with this family]

[lol we’ll be home in 30 min. I got so many gifts. You get first pick when we’re back!]

Grant didn’t reply right away. Then a message came in.

[I’m good. Get something for Maren. She’s been working all week and none of us have checked in.]

[She said she didn’t want anything though?]

She deleted it almost immediately.

A few seconds later, [OK].

I put my phone down. Two hours later, the office was nearly empty.

I finished up and headed out.

The sky was dimming, but our part of town was safe enough. I wasn’t worried.

A few minutes in, I felt someone behind me.

I turned, and someone grabbed my bag hard.

The strap caught around my neck and jerked me off my feet. I hit the ground hard.

I screamed.

He kicked me in the stomach. I curled into myself.

Then someone came out of nowhere. One blow, and the mugger was on the ground.

The guy took one look at him and bolted.

“You okay?”

“No…”

Everything went black.

I woke up in a hospital.

The man who’d helped me was at a table nearby, working. He looked up the moment I stirred.

“How are you feeling?”

“Better. The pain’s not as bad. Thank you. Seriously.”

He shook his head.

“Don’t mention it. I’m Wesley Caldwell.” He paused. “You should carry something on you from now on. Pepper

spray, a whistle, anything. This area’s gotten rough.”

I nodded.

“I will.”

He noticed my cracked lips, got up, and brought me water.

Once I’d finished, he nodded toward my phone.

“That thing hasn’t stopped buzzing since you got here. Probably your family.”

I picked up the phone.

The latest message was from Mom.

[Stop ignoring us and answer your phone!]

My hands shook around the phone.

Wesley stepped out without a word.

I blinked hard and scrolled up.

I found the beginning, the moment they realized I was gone.

Mom was first.

[It’s late. Where are you?]

Two minutes later, Dad.

[Quit being dramatic. You’re making your mother worry on purpose.]

Five more minutes. Then Grant.

[I checked the Ring camera. You haven’t been home in over a week. I went by the grocery store. They said you

never showed up. Where are you?]

Not one of them asked if I was safe.

They were angry I’d kept a secret.

Mom started calling.

I let it ring a few times before picking up.

She didn’t even wait for me to speak.

“Oh, so you are alive. You know how much stress you’ve put me through? Where the hell have you been?”

“Sierra Verde.”

Silence.

“Why would you go there?” Grant’s voice, tight. “It’s dangerous.”

“For work.”

Dad grabbed the phone.

“We already set you up with a job! What the hell are you doing out there?”

“I didn’t want it.”

“Then what do you want?”

Mom snatched the phone back.

“Oh, so you’re all grown up now? Don’t need us anymore? Fine. Don’t come crying to us when things fall

apart.”

She was screaming now, like I’d committed some unforgivable betrayal.

My body ached. But my voice was steady.

“When have you ever taken care of me?”

“What?”

Dead air. Three full seconds.

“I said, when have you ever taken care of me?”

“You…”

I didn’t let her finish.

“Have you ever thrown me a birthday party?”

“Do you even know my major?”

“Four years of summers and winters, and I didn’t get a single break. I paid my own tuition. How much did you give me for living expenses? Was it even a fraction of what Tessa got?”

“Who does all the housework?”

“So tell me. What exactly have you and Dad ever done for me?”

Nothing on the other end. I couldn’t even hear them breathing.

Nobody had an answer.

It was Dad who finally spoke.

“You’re the older one. Why do you always have to compete with your sister?”

I laughed. Of course. The same line. Every single time.

Whenever they had nothing left, they hid behind the same excuse: I was the older one.

One year. That was all it took to erase me.

“One year older. That’s all I am. And for that, I’m supposed to disappear?”

“You’re making this into something it’s not. No one treats you like that.”

“All four of you knew about the new house.”

Dad went quiet.

“I told you. We never found the right time.”

“Six months, Dad. Half a year. You couldn’t find five seconds in half a year?”

He had nothing.