Chapter 2

My dad, Richard, hardly ever hugged me.

And he never took me out for burgers.

Once, I fell on the street and started crying before I could stop myself.

Giving Dad a pitiful look, I reached out my arms and said softly, "Can you hug me?"

He just frowned and turned to Mom, saying, "Is this how you raise her? She cries over every little thing. Kids shouldn't be so spoiled."

I didn't really understand what Dad was saying.

But I could tell he was angry at Mom.

Was it because I fell? Or was it because I cried?

Quickly, I wiped away my tears, biting back the pain as I pushed myself to my feet.

I walked over to Mom and spread my arms wide, trying to shield her with my tiny body.

"It doesn't hurt at all. Dad, please, don't yell at Mom anymore, I'm begging you," I pleaded, my voice trembling.

Dad just glanced at me and walked away without another word.

I looked up at Mom, hoping she'd praise me, just a little.

But tears welled up in her eyes as she gently pinched my cheek and whispered, "I'm sorry, Kara. It's all my fault."

My teacher always told us that nobody had to apologize unless they did something wrong.

I shook my head, looking up at her seriously. "Mom, there's nothing to be sorry for."

Because I always knew that she hadn't done anything wrong.

Dad hardly ever came home. And every time he did, he and Mom would end up fighting.

The last time he came home, I'd just earned a gold star at school. Mom was so proud that she bought me a burger as a reward.

But as soon as Dad walked in, he just tossed the burger in the trash.

"So this is what you feed her every day when I'm not around? Junk food? How could you be so careless?" he snapped.

I was terrified and buried my face in Mom's arms, sobbing.

Mom gently wiped away my tears and soothed me. Then, she looked at Dad. "You misunderstood. This is just—"

"I don't need your explanations," Dad interrupted impatiently.

He then tossed a thick document at her. "This is the divorce agreement. Just look it over and sign it. The house goes to you, the car too, and as for the kid—"

"I want Kara!" Mom cut in, clutching me tightly.

She hugged me so tightly that her fingers almost dug into my shoulders—it actually hurt a little.

But I didn't try to wriggle free because I could feel her hands trembling.

Mom must be terrified.

I hugged her back, squeezing her tight, hoping she'd feel a little braver.

"I don't care about your property. All I want is Kara. She's my daughter," Mom said, her voice shaking but determined.

Dad stared at her for a moment, and then suddenly let out a sneer that sent a chill down my spine.

"Emily, where did you learn this new trick? Acting like a caring mom, using the kid to threaten me?"

Mom's gentle face was suddenly clouded with anger. She turned her face away, not meeting his eyes.

"I'm not threatening you. I just want my daughter," she said.

"And what's the point of her staying with you? So she can eat junk food every day?" Dad snapped.

I couldn't understand what they were talking about.

But I knew what "divorce" meant.

There was this kid in my kindergarten class, Charlie, who told us his parents got divorced.

Now, he lived with his dad.

Some of the kids teased him, shouting, "Your mom ditched you! You don't have a mom anymore!"

Instantly, Charlie started bawling.

I walked over and handed him a piece of candy Mom had put in my pocket.

Trying to comfort him, I said, "Don't cry. Your mom still loves you. She'd never leave you."

But he just bawled even louder, yelling, "They're getting divorced! They don't want me anymore! Now I don't have a mom or a dad!"

His words totally freaked me out, so I ended up crying right along with him.

Suddenly, that memory came rushing back to me.

I burst into tears, bawling my eyes out.

"I don't want you to get divorced! I want you both! Don't leave me alone!" I wailed, my voice shaking with desperation.

My mom seemed heartbroken. Tears welled up in her eyes as she hugged me tight, crying right along with me.

Dad just froze for a second, and then became even angrier. His brows knitted together, and he was clearly losing his patience.

"Emily, what kind of crap have you been teaching her? She's just a kid, and she's already got so much drama going on in her head. Do you really think using her to control me is going to stop me from leaving you?" he growled.

Mom lifted her chin, and for the first time ever, she looked truly angry.

"Richard, don't talk about my daughter like that. Apologize to her," she snapped, her voice shaking with anger.

"Your daughter?" Dad scoffed. "Don't kid yourself, Emily. I'm never letting her live with you."

Again, Dad stormed out after a huge fight, slamming the door behind him.