Chapter 2

I had barely made it out of the hospital when Mom recovered from the shock and came running after me.

"You ungrateful little..."

She grabbed my arm. Her grip was strong, and I could not break free.

Just then, an urgent voice rang out. "Lorraine, what are you doing to Cody?"

It was Dad.

Mom's grip loosened so suddenly that I nearly stumbled. Dad caught me and turned to glare at her. "Lorraine, why are you and Cody at the hospital? Did you bring him in for the match test?"

Mom shifted uncomfortably. "There are people everywhere. Do you have to be so loud?"

She had not denied it. That told Dad everything he needed to know.

"So you actually brought him in for the match test."

"Didn't I tell you? If you want to use money to solve the problem now that your brother is in trouble, fine. If you want to get tested yourself, I won't stop you. But I told you Cody was off limits."

Mom realized there was no point hiding it and lowered her voice. "Cody's a match. This could be my brother's only chance. I just figured he's young. A small surgery wouldn't even—"

Dad was barely holding it together. "You heartless... You don't deserve to call yourself a mother. He's a match, but so what? You're actually going to let him donate? Not a chance in hell. Cody is my son, not a spare organ supply for your family. As long as I'm breathing, he's never giving your brother a kidney."

Mom knew she was in the wrong and could only stand there while Dad laid into her, but when he said 'never', she could not stop herself from muttering back. "He's still my brother. And my mother's getting old. You want her to outlive her own child? My brother was on his knees begging, Wade. How can you just stand there and feel nothing?"

Dad let out a cold laugh. "Feel nothing? He had the nerve to come after my son's kidney, and I'm the one who should feel sorry for him?

"Don't talk to me about how desperate your brother is. He's desperate because he wants your son's organ. If there weren't laws stopping him, you think he'd bother begging? He would've shown up with a knife and taken it himself."

"You always think the worst of people," Mom muttered.

Dad scoffed. "Am I wrong? All these years, how much have you given your mother? How much has your brother taken from her? Has either of them ever shown you an ounce of gratitude?

"They've never once appreciated a thing you've done. When Cody goes over there, they feed him leftovers. You really think handing over his kidney is suddenly going to change that?

"If your mother and your brother had even a shred of respect for you, they would never have asked for this. They've never respected you, Lorraine, and you just keep going back for more."

She snapped. "If you don't want to help, then don't. Why do you have to go on and on about it?"

He looked at how angry she was, and something in him deflated.

"Lorraine, I want this to be the last time you bring this up. If you ever mention Cody donating a kidney again, I'm filing for divorce. I mean it. A devoted daughter like you should just go live with your mother and your brother, because you sure as hell don't deserve this family."

He did not wait for her response. He took my arm and walked away.

We had already gone a fair distance before Dad finally calmed down. He let out a long breath.

"Cody, there's something I need to tell you. Your mom... if she's willing to let this kidney thing go, we can still make this work. But if she keeps putting her side of the family above us, if she tries to force you into this again, then I can't keep this marriage going. I'll file the papers.

"I know you're in your senior year and the timing couldn't be worse. But I need you to be ready for that."

I wrapped my arms around him. "Dad, I get it. I know what's been going on. Whatever you decide, I'm behind you."

After that blowup, Mom backed off for a while, but I had read the comments. I knew she would not give up that easily.

Hence, I stayed on guard. I only came out of my room when Dad was home, and I only ate what he cooked. Whenever I went out, I made sure at least one classmate was with me.

One afternoon, a classmate and I went to the bookstore to pick up study materials. After we finished, we wandered around the street for a while.

Then, he tapped my arm. "Hey, isn't that your mom?"