Chapter 2

Dad nodded so fast it was almost comical. He'd always treated me like his precious girl and never said no to me. "Sally, tell me what you need. Whatever it is, I'll do it."

I said, dead serious, "Take tomorrow off and get a full check-up at the hospital."

Dad gave me a confused look.

But in the end, he nodded. "Alright, I'll listen to you. I'll take the day off and go to the hospital."

Back in my previous life, Dad didn't find out he had cancer until a year after he and Mom split up. By then, it was already too late. He wasted away in just a month and died in agony in that hospital bed.

But now that I'd returned to the past, I'd nip this problem in the bud.

At dinner that night, I noticed my grandparents quietly wiping away tears. My eyes started to sting, but I quickly tried to lighten the mood with a joke.

I said, "Grandma, Grandpa, am I a burden to you? You look so worried you can't stop crying."

They were so flustered they dropped their utensils. "Of course not, Sally. You're our most precious granddaughter. How could we ever dislike you or not want you around?"

I stood up and took their hands. "Let's not cry. We're going to have a good life from now on, so there's no need for tears."

They both broke into smiles through their tears.

Dad looked at us, relieved and happy.

This time, Dad would be okay, and my grandparents wouldn't won't pass away early from worrying about me all the time.

We'd all be safe, healthy, and together, just like a real family should be.

*****

Soon, Dad's health check up came back. Bad news: Dad was diagnosed with a tumor.

Good news: They found it in time, and it's benign.

When my grandparents heard the news, they freaked out and immediately dug out all their savings from over the years. No matter what, they were going to make sure Dad got treated.

Dad couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. "Mom, Dad, you don't need to use up your retirement money for me.

"Didn't I buy insurance before? It'll cover several thousands dollars. Seriously, don't worry. I've got this covered."

Hearing that, my grandparents let out a sigh of relief.

I broke down Dad's situation for them in plain language, and that finally let them breathe easy.

Regarding retirement, I quietly pulled Dad aside and whispered, "Hey Dad, can I tell you something? Do you trust me?"

In less than five years, the property prices of the overlooked neighborhood in the east of the city would explode.

If Dad bought two apartments there now while they were cheap, we could live in one and sell the other for a crazy profit. We'd be rolling in cash.

I remembered Erin Smith's dad worked in real estate, so I made up a story and told Dad it was a tip I heard from Erin's dad.

I added, "Just keep this to yourself, okay? Don't tell anyone else."

Otherwise, if things went south, people definitely would give him a hard time about it.

Dad thought for a moment, then said, "How about we just buy one for now?"

I totally got why he was hesitant.

That neighborhood was basically a ghost town right now. It was hard to imagine it ever turning into a fancy, high-end community with all the latest amenities.

I nodded. "Yeah, that's probably the safer bet."

Dad smiled and ruffled my hair. "You've always been sharp, Sally. If those prices really do double, I'll give you a big bonus."

I hooked my pinky with his. "Deal!"

A few days later, Dad, acting all mysterious, pulled out a property deed and flashed it at me with a secretive grin.

He said, "Sally, I thought it over and decided to go with your original idea. I bought two apartments. One's 900 square feet, the other's 1200."

Then, like he was performing a magic trick, he produced another deed from behind his back, eyes full of anticipation. "Go on, open it and see!"

I double-checked all the details of both apartments, making sure everything was spot on. It was the exact location that was going to boom in the future. It was perfect.

Dad handed me both property deeds and told me to keep them safe.

He said, "If I listen to you, Sally, I'm definitely going to make a fortune!"

I replied, "Yeah, our family's going to have it better and better from now on."

To buy those two apartments, Dad took out a loan for tens of thousands of dollars from the bank, but he was smiling way more than he ever did before.

He said just thinking about the future gave him all the motivation he needed to get through work every day.

The surgery to remove the tumor went perfectly.

The doctor said that as long as Dad took good care of himself while recovering, he'd be as healthy as anyone else.

I finally let out a sigh of relief.

Dad, I did it this time. I saved you.

Since I was worried that Grandma and Grandpa's health wouldn't be able to handle it, I stepped up and asked for two weeks off from school so I could take care of Dad at the hospital.