Chapter 3

With the mall’s grand opening wrapping up three days later, I had just over two hundred bucks to my name, so I bought lemons, cups, and bags of ice.

Every evening, I set up my lemonade cart outside the town square, where people gathered after work to eat, shop, and escape the heat.

The brutal summer heat worked in my favor because business was better than I’d imagined.

One evening, I was out there, calling out to potential customers.

Holding Millie’s hand, Cassie led her across the town square after her piano lesson.

Tagging along were several of Millie’s friends and their respective parents.

Spotting my cart, Millie bolted toward me.

“Meadow, I want some lemonade! I’ll have a cup.”

Millie tugged playfully at my sleeve, and her friends quickly chimed in, asking for lemonade too.

As one parent reached for their phone to pay, Cassie put a hand out to stop them.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. This is my daughter. She’s running a little business. It’s just a few drinks. Consider it our treat.”

The parent gave me a thumbs-up.

“Good for you. You’re working hard and gaining life experience. How old are you? Are you in college?”

Not even stopping for a beat, I kept making the lemonades one by one for the kids.

“I’m eighteen. I start my freshman year in September.”

“Oh, fantastic. Where are you going to college?

“Stanlyford.”

I deliberately gave the name of a different school.

Wide-eyed, the parent started showering Cassie with compliments.

“Oh, my goodness, Millie’s Mom. You’ve done such a wonderful job raising your children. Your youngest is so sweet and thoughtful, and your eldest is so responsible and accomplished.”

“My daughter just stays home, glued to her video games ever since high school ended. You’ve got to tell me your secret. I need to take notes from you on how to raise kids.”

Cassie put her hand over her mouth in joy, beaming from ear to ear.

“To be honest, it took a lot of effort on my part. I’ve raised Meadow to be self-reliant since she was little. I have a dedicated ledger for her to build her financial awareness.

“Meadow was out selling flowers on Valentine’s Day when she was seven. Isn’t that right, Meadow?”

I paused from squeezing the lemon. So Cassie did remember pushing a seven-year-old out on the streets to sell flowers.

Back then, I was too young to read facial cues. I simply ran up to just anyone to pitch my blossoms.

Once, I approached a drunkard who had his heart broken. He snatched the flowers out of my hands and tore into me.

I burst out crying in fear. For days, I had nightmares on end.

“Meadow?”

Cassie’s piercing gaze bore into me.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I cast my eyes over to Millie, who was playing with her friends not too far away.

“Millie’s eight this year,” I said out of the blue.

“What?”

The words didn’t register with Cassie right away.

I paused and looked Cassie in the eye before uttering, “Millie’s eight. I was only seven when I sold flowers on the street.

“Why haven’t you asked Millie to work and earn money?”

Cassie pulled a long face and spoke in hushed tones, “What’s that supposed to mean, Meadow? Must you embarrass me in front of people?”

I lifted my chin and met Cassie’s eyes without fear.

“I simply stated a fact. How is it embarrassing?

“Maybe you know deep down that you’re just playing favorites.”

“Shut up!” Cassie shouted.

“You’re the older one. Why are you so petty? Do you have to make everything a competition with your sister? She’s only a child!”

“Then answer me. Why aren’t you keeping count of Millie’s spending? Why does she have to—”

Smack!

A sharp slap cut me off.

Cassie stared at me with bloodshot eyes, her chest heaving.

“You certainly are full of yourself,” Cassie hissed through clenched teeth.

With things spiraling out of control, the parent pulled Cassie back.

“Oh, come on. She’s just a kid. Why are you getting into it? Let’s not hold her up. She needs to get back to work. Come on, now.”

The parents dragged Cassie away and made their way out of the town square.

I ran my fingers along my swollen right cheek before covering my face with a mask.

It was back to business for me.

I was still halfway short of the $1,700.48 Cassie expected from me.