Chapter 4

Early the next morning, I woke up to an awful clatter outside my bedroom—pots, pans, and something metal being struck hard enough to make me wince.

"Up! Up! Time to get out of bed!"

I squinted at the clock. "Mom, it's only 6:00 am."

"You didn't come home for Harvest Break just to lie around like you're on vacation, did you?"

Mom marched over to my bed with a stainless-steel mixing bowl in one hand and banged on it loudly with a spoon. The noise went straight through my skull.

Still half asleep, I forced myself upright.

"Breakfast is your responsibility today," she announced. "Your father and I work all week, and taking care of Hugh is exhausting. Since you're home, you can start helping out and take some of the load off us."

With that, she turned and left without waiting for an answer.

I sat there for a moment, trying to wake up enough to think. Then, I picked up my phone, ordered breakfast for everyone, and went back to bed.

By the time I woke up again, it was around ten. I wandered into the dining room and found the rest of the family just sitting down to eat.

Apparently, dragging me out of bed at six had accomplished absolutely nothing.

"Elowen, these breakfast wraps are great." Dad took an enormous bite of his egg-and-cheese wrap. "Get these again tomorrow."

"Of course, they're good." Mom looked distinctly pleased with herself. "I got Elowen up at 6:00 am to make breakfast. That's why we have such a nice spread."

The way she said it, anyone listening would have thought she'd personally spent hours in the kitchen.

Grandma glanced at the perfectly shaped pastries in front of her, then toward the takeout containers visible in the trash. "Elowen made all this?"

Everyone followed her gaze.

"Oh, no. I ordered it," I said without hesitation. "It was easier this way, and everyone got to sleep longer."

I'd never claimed I'd cooked anything, so I saw no reason to pretend now.

Dad's expression immediately changed. "You ordered breakfast and tried to pass it off as homemade?"

"I didn't. I literally just told you I ordered it."

"You think takeout is free?" Grandpa dropped his pastry onto his plate with a look of disgust. "Do you have any idea how expensive Hugh is to raise? The least you could do is stop wasting the family's money."

Mom's eyes widened as if I'd committed some terrible offense. "I got up at 6:00 am to wake you, and this is what you do? After I went to all that trouble?"

I stared at her. "I just thought everyone could get some extra sleep and we'd have a nicer breakfast."

"Enough with the excuses." Mom shook her head. Disappointment was written all over her face. "I honestly don't understand when you became someone who lies about everything."

Had I really done something wrong?

Maybe I shouldn't have ordered breakfast. Maybe I should have gotten up at 6:00 am and cooked for everyone like Mom asked.

At lunch, I followed a few online tutorials and made a full meal, hoping my family wouldn't be angry with me anymore.

Mom took a bite of the barbecue ribs and chewed slowly.

"Is it good?" I asked, watching her expectantly.

"Mm. It's good." She looked so pleased that her eyes gradually filled with tears. One spilled down her cheek, and I quickly handed her a tissue.

So, that was all Mom had wanted. She wanted to eat something I'd made for her myself.

Maybe I'd misunderstood them this morning.

"Elowen, you're all grown up now," Mom said, her voice thick with emotion.

I took her hand, wanting to tell her that I could take care of them now too.

"I'm getting old," she continued. "By the time we finish raising your brother, I probably won't have the energy to help raise his children."

She looked at the food on the table. "But after seeing how well you can cook, I don't have to worry anymore. When your brother has children someday, I'll be counting on you to take care of them."

The smile froze on my face. My fingers slowly loosened around hers until my hand fell away. So, those tears weren't because she was touched that her daughter had grown up. She was relieved because someone would be there to take care of her son's children.

Somewhere along the way, it felt as though I'd lost my sense of dignity as a person in this family. I had become an extension of my brother, and my value was measured by what I could do for his life.

I lowered my head and ate my food.

When Mom finished, she went to feed Hugh. No one noticed anything was wrong.

That evening, I opened my conversation with Mr. Borden. "Sir, I've decided to accept the overseas exchange program."