Chapter 4

I couldn't understand what Dad meant, but I instinctively teared up.

Once the parent-teacher meeting was over, I stepped in front of him and blocked his way.

"Mom has been sleeping for a really long time, Dad. Can you take her to the hospital?" I asked. "She'll wake up if the doctor gives her some medicine. I promise I won't ask for those useless toys anymore."

Dad didn't respond and let out a sigh.

Before he could say anything, Colin snapped, "No! He's taking me to the amusement park today! You're just like your mom! All you guys do is lie! Nobody likes either of you!"

My fingernails dug into the palm of my hands as I glanced at Dad with tear-filled eyes.

He reached out to pat my head. "Maybe some other time."

Mom and I had lost count of how many times we'd heard that response.

When Dad took Wendy and Colin on a winter trip overseas, he told us our trip could wait until some other time. When he treated them to fancy dinners, our plans were also pushed off to some other time. When it came to bringing us back to the Fisher residence, he still told us he'd do it some other time.

I didn't understand what "some other time" meant. So I stepped in front of him and asked, "Does 'some other time' mean never?"

I couldn't read his expression. But that day, he still drove me back to our old apartment building himself.

"Stella, if you promise not to help your mother lie from now on, I can like the two of you again. Next year, on your birthday, I'll bring you two back to the Fisher residence."

I shook my head. "I didn't lie. Mom said it's not good to tell lies."

I added, "Mom's just asleep. I broke open my piggy bank, but there were only five dollars inside. The doctor said that it wasn't enough to buy medicine. That's what I thought of selling the love letter to you. You still haven't given me my 200 dollars, Dad!"

Dad's expression grew darker with each passing comment.

"Enough, Stella Fisher!" he snapped. "If you keep spewing nonsense, I'll ship you off to a boarding school! Maybe that'll straighten both you and your mother out!"

Frightened by his threats, I fell silent. I was picking on my fingers so much that I had nearly broken skin.

Moments later, I saw a cloud of thick black smoke rising into the sky.

The moment I got out of the car, I froze. The shabby little apartment Mom had patched up by selling her love letters was being swallowed by flames.

"What are you standing there for? Call the fire department!" someone screamed.

Panic flashed across Dad's face as he hurriedly tried to dial Mom's number. He called her three times in a row, but she never answered a single call.

Standing before the roaring flames, Dad called Wendy with a grim expression on his face.

"Didn't you say you saw Jillian earlier? Tell her to go to the Fisher residence immediately!" he screamed into the phone.

I felt my heart drop.

Oh, I see. He was looking for Mom.

Smiling, I broke free from his hold and raced up the stairs toward the second floor. The flames singed my hair, but I pushed past the searing heat and kept making my way up.

Dad immediately started to panic. His voice turned hoarse as he shouted, "Stella Fisher! What are you trying to do? Get down here!"

I didn't turn around. I was acting as though I couldn't hear him at all.

When I didn't listen to him, he desperately tried to grab me and lead me back downstairs to safety.

"Cut it out, Stella. Stop fooling around and come back downstairs. If you listen to me, I'll bring you and your mother back to the Fisher residence. How does that sound?"

The door was forced open with a loud bang.

Mom was still lying motionlessly on the couch. I couldn't believe how unbothered she was.

"Look! Mom's right there. I wasn't lying. She's really asleep!" I turned to look at my dad. "Dad? Why are you crying?"