Chapter 1
From age seven to twenty-two, the child support my parents gave me was exactly zero.
From twenty-two to thirty-four, the number of phone calls I made to them was also zero.
By the time I turned thirty-five, my net worth had crossed the hundred-million mark.
That was when my dad started texting me every week. It started with, [Hey sweetie, keeping busy?] and escalated to, [My health hasn't been great lately.]
My only reply was two words: [Yeah, busy.]
He didn't give up. Another text popped up: [Your brother is looking to upgrade his house, but he's a little short on the down payment.]
I stared at the screen for a long time before replying with a single question.
There was dead silence on the other end of the line.
Not another text came through. That was, until a month later, when my mother suddenly showed up in the lobby of my company.
*****
In the fall when I was seven, I was packed onto an overnight cross-country train.
Mom sat across from me, cradling my month-old baby brother.
She spent the entire ride making him laugh, her eyes absolutely shining with adoration.
"Where are we going, Mom?" I asked.
"To Grandma's house," she replied without even looking up.
"For how long?"
"Just for a bit."
I was actually pretty happy about it.
Grandma lived out in the country. She had a big farmhouse yard and raised chickens.
The last time we visited for the holidays, she made me a massive bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup.
The train ride took over ten hours.
By the time we pulled into the station, it was already pitch black outside.
Dad led the way, carrying my beat-up duffel bag, while Mom followed close behind with my brother.
I skipped along in the back, wearing my little backpack.
From the town center, it was another two-hour hike up a dirt mountain road to reach the house.
My brother kept crying on the way up.
As Mom tried to soothe him, I caught her muttering under her breath, "We shouldn't have brought her. Having to buy an extra ticket was such a waste."
I pretended I didn't hear that, but a heavy knot started forming in my stomach.
It was past nine by the time we finally made it to Grandma's place.
Hearing the knock, she hurried to open the door.
She looked stunned for a second before a huge smile spread across her face. "Oh my goodness, you're all here? Come in, come on in!"
The living room was lit by a single dim bulb.
Grandma's hair had gone completely white, and she had a slight stoop in her posture.
She came out of the kitchen carrying a hot bowl of soup. "You guys must be starving. I just made this."
"Mom, come hold your grandson first," my mother said.
Grandma took my baby brother, her eyes crinkling into happy little half-moons.
"Oh, what a handsome little guy!" She cooed at him for the longest time before finally noticing me. "Charlotte is here too? Look how tall you've gotten."
I nodded, not saying a word.
I ended up being the one who ate that soup.
It was scalding hot, but I scarfed it down quickly because I noticed my parents whispering with Grandma in the corner.
I couldn't make out the words, but the vibe felt totally off.
After I finished eating, Mom told me to go play in the yard.
Instead, I stood just outside the front door and pressed my ear against the wood.
"Mom, we're gonna leave Charlotte here with you for now," my mom said.
"For how long?" Grandma asked.
"We'll... we'll figure it out later."
"What about her schooling?"
"Isn't there a local elementary school? Just enroll her there for the time being."
"What about her living expenses?"
Dad chimed in then. "Mary, you know how it is. With two kids now, things are incredibly tight. Once we have a little breathing room, we'll send some money your way."
Grandma went quiet for a long time.
Finally, she let out a heavy sigh. "Alright. I understand."
My blood ran cold.
They were dumping me here.
It wasn't just a short visit. It was permanent.
I slept in Grandma's bed that night.
She lay beside me, holding my hand.
I kept my eyes squeezed shut as the tears just kept coming.
Grandma gently rubbed my back. "Shh, don't cry, sweetie. Grandma is right here."
Her hands were rough and calloused, but they felt incredibly warm.
*****
When I woke up the next morning, my parents were already gone.
Grandma was the only one in the yard, feeding the chickens.
She forced a smile when she saw me. "Morning, kiddo. I made some oatmeal for you."
I stood in the doorway, staring down the dirt road leading out of the property.
It was completely empty. There was no one in sight.
Grandma walked over and took my hand. "Looks like it's just you and me from now on, sweetie."
Her voice was soft, but the words were crystal clear.
I nodded.
And from that day forward, I never saw my parents again.