Chapter 3
David called Susan.
"Honey, I've bought everything we need for the funeral," he said.
"Don't worry, everything for your dad is the best out there.
"Please don't cry so much, okay? You need to take care of yourself. We're all counting on you to keep this family together now."
Susan's eyes filled with tears, touched by his words.
"Honey, you're the one who does all the heavy lifting for our family.
"Don't stress, it's still early. Take it slow on the road and stay safe."
After hanging up, an elderly woman in a wheelchair came over to Susan.
"Susan, where's David?" she asked.
Susan wiped away her tears and forced a smile.
"Mom, he's almost home," she replied.
She looked over at me.
"Can you keep an eye on my mom for me while I handle something?"
With that, she headed off to welcome the new guests.
Olivia Miller let out a gentle sigh.
"My husband passed away so suddenly, and David was worried I'd be too upset, so he made sure I had a wheelchair to help me get around.
"He meant well, so I just couldn't turn down his thoughtfulness."
Whenever she talked about David, the pride was all over her face.
My heart was numb with pain.
Then I noticed the gold earrings she was wearing, and they were my mother's.
I thought I must be seeing things.
I leaned in, my heart pounding, checking over and over.
Both earrings carried the same scratches I had put on them playing around as a child, in exactly the same places, and there was no doubt left in me.
Anger surged through me, burning all the way to my head.
I reached out, wanting nothing more than to rip those earrings off her right then and there.
I wanted to go nuclear, drag everyone down with me.
But in the end, reason won out over impulse, and I held myself back.
I really wanted to blow up this whole scene, but I wasn't about to be the crazy one everyone laughs at.
If I lost it now, everyone would just think I'd lost my mind.
It would have let David and the Miller family off far too easily.
I let my hand drop, and Olivia looked at me. "Are you married, sweetheart?"
I tried to keep my voice steady.
"Yeah, I am."
"How's your husband treating you?" she asked.
"He cheated on me. He told me he didn't want children, and then he had a son with another woman behind my back. He married into my family, and he's been spending my family's money on them," I said.
Olivia stopped, as if she had not expected any of that out of me, and then her face filled with anger.
"Ugh, that man is pure trash, and that tramp and her whole family are just as bad," she spat.
She was actually taking my side.
"People like that belong in hell. Don't let them off easy, sweetheart, or they'll decide you're somebody they can walk on."
That was exactly what I was thinking.
Right then David called me, and his voice came out fast and strained.
"Emily, something's happened with my friend. I need 17 thousand dollars right now. Send it over."
My hand was trembling as I gripped my phone.
I swallowed my anger and pressed him, "What happened? Did somebody die over there?"
David paused, totally thrown off.
He clearly had not expected that from the woman who backed him without conditions.
"Why are you talking to me like that?"
"That's harsh, is it? Whatever mess that is, it has nothing to do with me. You can figure it out yourselves."
I hung up, and a few seconds later his messages came in.
David: [You put on such a reasonable act, and it turns out you're this cold. Emily, don't come back to me regretting this.]
The next second, Susan's phone chimed with a new notification.
Susan headed over to Olivia.
"Mom, David said he bought you some jewelry," Susan said.
Olivia smiled. "That boy. He shouldn't be spending like that."
Then she looked at the photos on Susan's phone.
When I saw the pieces on that screen, I turned to stone.
They were all my mother's heirlooms!