Chapter 3

In my previous life, Dad passed away way too early. I never even got the chance to really be there for him or show him how much I cared. This time around, I swear I'd treat him twice as well.

"Sally, I really feel like I've let you down. If you have trouble keeping up with your classes when you go back to school, I'll get you a tutor," Dad said, sounding guilty.

"No need. I don't need one," I shot back.

I tossed the towel into the tub. "Dad, we should only spend money where it counts. How about a bet? When I get back to school, the top spot in the grade will still belong to me."

I wasn't joking.

Back in my previous life, I was always way ahead of everyone else, leaving second place eating my dust. I still remembered everything from before, so I'd just make second place suffer even more.

Dad couldn't help but laugh because of me.

"Of course I believe in you, Sally. I promise, once I'm back on my feet, I'll take you to the amusement park!" he said.

Honestly, I was way too old for amusement parks now. But to make him happy, I put on my best innocent act and clapped my hands, cheering, "Yay! Dad's the best!"

Once Dad was back on his feet, I headed back to school and got back into the swing of things.

Less than a week later, something happened that nobody saw coming.

Not only did my grades not slip at all, they were even better than before.

Dad, Grandpa, and Grandma were absolutely thrilled. They even took me to church to pray and give thanks.

Even though I wasn't really religious, seeing the three of them praying so sincerely, I went along with them.

God, if you could hear me, please bless my family with peace and joy.

*****

About six months later, Mom reached out to me herself after months of silence.

She told me she was going to marry a guy named Buck Longley.

Listening to her ramble on in that lovestruck tone about the man who was about to become my stepdad, I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud.

I knew Buck.

Just like in my previous life, Buck ruined everything for me and Mom.

He hid his debt of tens of thousands of dollars and tricked Mom into marrying him. Then he dragged her to his creditors, saying, "This fool will help me pay off my debts from now on."

He even, without a shred of shame, asked those creditors if they'd let Mom drink with them to work off the debt.

Mom came home that night, crying as she told me everything.

Luckily, those creditors still had a shred of decency left. They didn't lay a finger on Mom and promised not to make things hard for her as long as the payments were on time. Otherwise, Mom and Buck would have to face the consequences.

"That's wonderful, Mom. Congratulations on finding your happiness." I faked tears of joy. "Make sure you and Buck live happily together, okay?"

I was sneering inwardly. It looked like she found her payback again.

Even with all my memories from my last life, if I tried to warn her about Buck Longley now, she wouldn't believe a single word.

Even after realizing she'd been played by Buck, she was still hopelessly in love with him, hell-bent on having his kid no matter what.

Guess that was just how it went. Bad boys always get the girls. Not that I'd ever understand it.

So this time, I wasn't about to go looking for trouble or get burned by her mess.

I'd simply watch from the sidelines and let her face the consequences of her own choices.

After hearing my "congratulations," Mom was absolutely thrilled. She promised that next time we met, she'd take me out for steak at a restaurant and buy me some new clothes.

I smiled, thanked her, told her I was feeling sleepy, and quickly wrapped up the call.

Sure enough, Mom went through that same hellish night all over again, just like I'd expected.

I picked up the phone to hear Mom sobbing on the other end, begging me to ask Dad for money to bail her out of the hole Buck had dug for her.

I couldn't believe it.

Man, she'd got some serious nerve.

"Mom, you probably don't know, but Dad's been really sick. Grandpa and Grandma even had to dip into their retirement savings to pay for his treatment.

"Honestly, things are really rough for us right now," I said, making it sound as bad as possible.

Truth was, we ate really well every single meal these days.

I licked my lips, still tasting the delicacies on them. "Mom, please don't tell Dad, okay? You know how soft-hearted he is.

"If he hears about all this, it'll probably break him. If he can't take it, Grandpa and Grandma would rally the whole family and storm your place for sure."

Mom hurriedly hung up, totally panicked.

It was only two months later when I heard from our neighbor, Melissa Blaney, that Mom was pregnant.

"Sally, don't take this the wrong way, but I don't get what your mom's thinking. Her husband's up to his neck in debt, and she still refuses to get rid of the baby, insisting on having it," Melissa said, shaking her head.

Yeah, I know.

Back then, I was as blind to reality as she was now.