Chapter 3

We didn't have a phone at the house. In fact, the town mayor was the only one who had a landline.

Dad had told us to call the mayor's place if there was ever an emergency, but we never had a reason to.

About three months after I moved in, that landline rang.

The mayor's wife came sprinting to our front door, hollering, "Mrs. Foster, phone call for you!"

Grandma dropped whatever she was doing, grabbed my hand, and we rushed over.

She picked up the receiver, her voice shaking a little. "Hello? Richard?"

It was my dad on the line.

I couldn't make out what he was saying, but Grandma just kept nodding. "Yeah, everything's fine. Charlotte is doing great.

"School? Yep, we got her enrolled at the local elementary.

"Money? We have plenty, don't you worry about us."

Her voice grew fainter and fainter.

Finally, she handed the phone down to me. "Charlotte, your dad wants to talk to you."

I took the receiver with trembling hands. "Dad?"

"Hey, Charlotte. Are you settling in okay at Grandma's?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"That's good. You be a good girl and listen to your grandmother, alright? Mom and I will come visit you soon."

The tears instantly spilled over. "Dad, when are you coming?"

"Well... work is just crazy right now. Once things settle down, I'll head out there."

"What about Mom?"

"Your mom is busy taking care of your brother. She can't really get away either."

I bit my lip hard, trying not to let a sob escape. "Dad, I miss you guys."

There was a few seconds of dead air on the line.

Finally, he spoke up. "I miss you too, kiddo. Anyway, I gotta go. Keep your grades up."

"Dad, wait..."

The dial tone buzzed in my ear. He hung up.

I stood frozen, still clutching the receiver.

Grandma walked over, gently pried it from my fingers, and hung it back up on the wall.

She took my hand and led me back home.

We didn't speak a single word the entire walk back.

Once we were inside, she pulled me into a tight hug. "Don't be sad, sweetie."

But I couldn't hold back anymore.

I buried my face in her chest and bawled until my whole body shook.

Grandma just held onto me, gently rubbing my back.

She was crying too.

I could feel her teardrops landing on my hair.

*****

We never got another phone call after that.

I remember asking her, "Is Dad ever gonna call again?"

"He will," she promised.

But a whole year went by without a ring. Then two years. Still nothing.

By the time I hit third grade, a boy in my class cornered me. "How come your parents never visit?"

"They're busy with work," I said.

"Nobody is that busy. Not even once?"

I didn't say anything back.

I honestly had no excuse left to give him.

That evening, I cornered Grandma. "Dad doesn't want me anymore, does he?"

She looked caught off guard. "What makes you say that? You're his daughter."

"But he never comes to see me."

"He's... he's tied up with work."

"What about Mom? Is she tied up with work too?"

Grandma went totally silent.

Eventually, she let out a long sigh. "Charlotte, you're still young. There are some things you just don't understand."

"I do understand," I said.

"Oh yeah? And what's that?"

"They don't want me anymore because they have my little brother now."

Grandma completely stiffened. She didn't try to argue with me.

We both knew I was telling the brutal truth.

I had a dream that night.

My parents had finally come to pick me up.

They were standing at the edge of town, waving at me.

I ran over, and they swept me into a huge hug.

"Charlotte, we're taking you home," Mom said.

I was so happy I was sobbing.

But when I woke up, I was still staring at the ceiling of Grandma's run-down bedroom.

The sun wasn't even up yet, but Grandma was already awake.

I could hear her out in the yard chopping firewood.

The heavy, rhythmic thuds echoed in the crisp air.

I just lay there in bed, watching the sky slowly turn bright outside my window.

A quiet little voice in the back of my mind finally spoke up.

They weren't coming. They were never coming back for me.

I just had to accept it.

From that day on, I completely stopped asking Grandma when they would visit.

I stopped waiting around for the mayor's phone to ring.

I poured every ounce of my energy into my schoolwork.

Because I knew the harsh reality.

The only way out of this town was to become strong enough to stand on my own two feet.

That was the only way to guarantee I'd never be abandoned again.