Chapter 3

The transfer paperwork went through even faster than I'd expected.

The company told me to report to Selth City in three days and said a room had already been freed up for me in the employee dorms.

I booked my train ticket and didn't tell my family.

Ever since I was little, whatever decision I made, they'd always found out at the last minute.

When I was filling out my college applications, Dad forgot to ask where I wanted to go. When I was job hunting after graduation, all Mom remembered was to have me help polish Lily's résumé.

Later, they always said it was because I had a mind of my own and they never needed to worry about me.

After long enough, I believed it too.

On the last day of the Labor Day holiday, my parents invited the relatives over for a housewarming.

The moment I walked in, I noticed a new decorative piece on the living room wall. It was a family tree carved in relief.

My parents' names sat at the bottom. Above them, it split into two branches, Fred on the left and Lily on the right. Space had been left under each of their names, so future family members could be added later.

I stood in front of it for a long time.

My aunt, Melinda Collin, came out of the kitchen and saw I wasn't moving. She smiled and patted my shoulder. "Isn't it lovely? Your mom had it custom-made."

I asked her, "Isn't it missing a name?"

Aunt Melinda paused.

Mom happened to come out with a dish just then. She followed my gaze and quickly laughed. "The guy who made it said the design only fits so much. Three kids would've been too crowded.

"Besides, you're a girl. Once you're married, you'll become part of your husband's family tree. Whether you're on this one or not doesn't really matter."

The living room went quiet for a moment.

Fred frowned. "Mom, what are you saying?"

Mom realized it had come out wrong too and hurried to backpedal. "That's not what I meant. I just think it's only a decoration. Allie won't make a fuss over it."

Everyone's eyes landed on me, as if they were waiting for me to prove her right.

I smiled. "Mm, I don't mind."

Sure enough, Mom breathed a sigh of relief.

During dinner, Grandma Agnes asked me why I didn't move back home.

Before I could answer, Lily laughed. "Even if Allie moved back, she wouldn't have a room!"

Mom kicked her under the table. Lily stuck out her tongue and hurried to smooth it over. "She could sleep in the guest room. I was just kidding."

But Grandma Agnes frowned. "A house this big, and there's no room for Allie?"

Dad served her a piece of fish. "Her job's far from here. It wouldn't be convenient for her to move back. Besides, the kids are grown. We can't keep them all tied to home."

He said it so naturally, as if he weren't the one who'd called me every day, telling me to give up my opportunity out of town.

Halfway through the meal, Fred brought up the extra parking space in the underground garage.

Lily's hand shot up. "Give it to me! I'm planning to get a car next year anyway."

Mom smiled and nodded. "It was always meant for you."

I froze mid-motion.

When they'd put down the deposit on this place, I was the one who'd paid the twenty thousand dollars for that parking space. Mom had said she was a little short on cash at the time and asked me to cover it for now.

I never once pressed her about it, because she'd said, "We're family. It all belongs to everyone anyway."

I put down my fork. "I paid for that parking space, didn't I?"

The table fell silent.

Mom was caught off guard, and her face turned awkward. "You don't even have a car right now. Lily's going to be commuting every day. She needs somewhere to park."

I looked at her. "And the twenty thousand dollars?"

Dad's face finally darkened. "Allie, we just got through the holiday, and the whole family's here today. Do you really have to keep score like this?"

Fred lowered his voice too. "What's gotten into you lately? You never used to be this petty."

Used to.

There it was again.

I used to give my things to Lily and say it was fine. I used to lend the family money and never ask for it back.

Once everyone got used to that, the one time I finally spoke up, I was being petty.

I didn't keep arguing. I just looked down, opened my phone, and sent Mom the record of the transfer from back then. "You don't have to pay it back today. Just send it to me by the end of the month."

She stared at me in disbelief. "You're really asking your own family for money?"

I nodded. "Yes. I happen to need it soon."

Lily quickly grabbed Mom's arm. "Mom, if Allie wants it, just give it to her. I'll figure something else out for parking."

Mom's face looked awful. She didn't say another word to me for the rest of the meal.

As I reached the door, I heard Dad's low voice behind me. "Her temper's been getting stranger and stranger lately."

Fred sighed. "Maybe work's not going well. She'll get over it in a few days."

I didn't look back.

What they didn't know was that my job was going great.

It was just that this time, I wasn't planning to stay.