Library
Search
Home / Emotional Realism / You Don’t Get Us Back, Mom / Chapter 3

Share

Chapter 3

Author: Johnny Fisher
Paige Winter's voice came out strained. "Did Lauren…"

"She's dead," Dad and I cut her off at the same time.

Something in her expression shifted, but she didn't ask any questions. She simply followed us to the restaurant.

When it was time to blow out the candles, I started singing, getting ready to wish Dad a happy birthday, when his phone lit up.

He flinched, his fingers trembling as he unlocked it.

I leaned over without thinking. The moment I saw the screen, it felt like all the blood drained from my body.

Matthew had posted something.

[I love smashing things, but she never complains. She even smiles and hands them to me.]

The photo showed our trophies shattered across the floor, while the toys I had treasured so much that I barely dared touch them had been smeared with paint.

Another notification popped up. Mom had transferred ten thousand dollars.

Dad tapped the attached voice message, and the sound of things breaking burst from the speaker.

"Something happened to the trophies. Take the money and buy Alicia a few new ones."

My vision blurred with tears.

Money couldn't replace what we had lost.

Dad squeezed his eyes shut, then silently took screenshots before sending a voice message to a lawyer.

"Mr. Green, these are photos of Lauren with Matthew, along with records of the large transfers she's made. Submit the evidence and proceed with the divorce."

Dad never replied to Mom that night, no matter how many times she called.

[Hey, I'm sorry I forgot your birthday. Why did you send me the money back? Why are you acting like this again? Are you done yet? The reporters went to interview Matthew and his daughter. You made things awkward for him. Are you happy now?]

Dad read every message. For the first time, he didn't cry. He simply blocked Mom on WhatsApp.

She wouldn't hear from him again.

Three days left.

There was a parent-child competition in the city. Mom had promised over and over that she would be there.

I sat on the bench waiting, my hand wrapped around Dad's.

Five minutes passed. Then thirty.

She never showed.

Suddenly, Dad's phone rang. It was Mom.

"There's a problem with a project at work. I have to go in today. I'll make it up to Alicia."

She hadn't even finished speaking before Dad hung up and blocked her number.

I forced a smile, about to comfort him, when a familiar voice drifted over.

"Mom, you're the best! With you here, we're definitely gonna win!"

My mind went blank as I turned toward the sound and saw Mom holding another child in her arms.

I looked up at Dad in confusion. "Didn't Mom say she had work?"

He shot to his feet and started toward her, but I grabbed his hand and shook my head. "The race is starting."

He hesitated for a moment before slowly sitting back down.

It was a relay race. If I could sprint 200 yards and get the baton into Dad's hand, we would win a family trip around the world.

A small spark of hope flickered to life inside me.

The starting gun fired, and I took off with everything I had.

Fifty yards. One hundred fifty. One ninety…

Sweat blurred my vision as I raised the baton, just about to pass it to Dad, when a gust of wind rushed past.

Someone slammed into me from the side, sending me crashing to the ground.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Latest chapter

  • You Don’t Get Us Back, Mom   Chapter 9

    [Ms. Roberts, your mentor is alive. She bribed the people in prison and has been living in Matthew and Nora's basement for the past two years.]The words hit, and Lauren's vision went dark with rage.She snapped, her voice breaking into a scream. "Send all three of them to the slums in Ardenia! Take everything they have, and make sure they never come back!"-Alicia's POVBy the third month in Dalecrest, I had already made friends with all the kids at kindergarten.I met new people every day. I learned new things and new poems, and when I got home, I would recite them to Dad.Just like I thought, Dad's life had changed, too.In the first month, he won the world photography competition with one of his pieces.In the second month, he used the prize money and the assets he received in the divorce settlement to open his own studio.He stayed busy. Wealthy clients came to him for photos.He worked really hard. I could tell he was exhausted, but he looked happy. He smiled all th

  • You Don’t Get Us Back, Mom   Chapter 8

    "Mr. Dawson's depression required daily medication and constant hospital visits. I know of at least one incident when Mr. Dawson suffered a severe depressive episode and hurt himself. As he bled out, he called you for help, but you lied and told him you were overseas on business. Is that correct?"Lauren's pupils trembled. Her hands clenched against the table, trembling uncontrollably.She didn't know. Simon had never told her.Wait, no. He had. Alicia, too.Back then, Alicia clung to her leg every day, crying and begging her not to leave.Simon had smashed things around the house, his eyes red as he shouted, "I can't take care of Alicia like this! I'm begging you. Just come back. Please!"But all she could think about was that Matthew and Nora were waiting for her.The pain hit all at once. Lauren clutched her chest and collapsed.Victor looked down at her, his expression unchanged, his voice steady and unrelenting."A few days ago, you pushed Mr. Dawson into a lake. He can

  • You Don’t Get Us Back, Mom   Chapter 7

    Lauren couldn't get a word out. Her eyes were empty, like something inside her had gone quiet."Simon and Alicia are gone… The dogs killed them…"Matthew couldn't quite hide the flicker of something in his eyes, though he quickly forced his face into grief."H-How could this happen? Simon was such a good man. I can't believe he's gone… Don't blame yourself. I like to believe good people find peace in the end.""Peace?" Lauren echoed.The word tasted bitter.Pain tore through her chest, sharp and constant, spreading until it swallowed everything.She had killed them.If she had paid attention earlier, she would have known where they were going today.If she hadn't lied about sending Matthew and Nora overseas, maybe they would have forgiven her. Maybe she could have made it up to Simon on his birthday.But now, there was nothing left. She had lost both her husband and her daughter.Suddenly, her phone rang, loud and jarring. She picked up stiffly, and a cold, unfamiliar voice

  • You Don’t Get Us Back, Mom   Chapter 6

    Third-person POVLauren Roberts had just pulled into the parking lot of a nearby hospital with Matthew and Nora when a breaking news alert sounded on her phone.Her heart tightened, as if something had clenched around it. A surge of unease hit so hard that she struggled to breathe.Her hands shook as she tapped the notification.[Two Dead After Rabid Dogs Released at Amusement Park]Her mind went blank as she stared at the image. Two bodies lay side by side, covered in white sheets. One arm was exposed. On the ring finger was a band she recognized.Her grip on the steering wheel slipped.She knew that ring. It was the one she had given Simon for their fifth anniversary.Back then, Alicia had just turned three. The three of them had gone to the best viewpoint in Lowridge to watch fireworks light up the sky.Why was it on a corpse?The thought hit her all at once, sharp and impossible to ignore. Before she could look closer, she saw another photo.This time, it was a delicat

  • You Don’t Get Us Back, Mom   Chapter 5

    One day left.Dad packed our bags and took me to get my visa.These past few days, Mom came by every day to see him. Whenever she saw the nurse acting as my "mom," her expression would tighten."Alicia already has me. What's wrong with you, Simon? Do you really need another woman around?"Dad and I said nothing. The nurse snapped at her instead.Later, Mom brought Dad a pile of new clothes and bought me a stack of toys. After she left, we gave everything away to the kids who were fighting cancer.Five hours left.Dad took me to the amusement park I had always wanted to visit."I know you've always wanted to come here, but I kept putting it off because of my condition. I'm sorry."I broke into a huge grin.Then my watch buzzed with a message from Mom.[Alicia, tell your dad I've already sent Matthew overseas. I'll celebrate his birthday tonight.]Something stirred in my chest, but the next moment, I saw her. She was with Matthew, walking close beside him.I didn't tell Da

  • You Don’t Get Us Back, Mom   Chapter 4

    The moment I hit the ground, blood spread across my knees. The pain hit so hard that my eyes filled with tears, and a cry slipped out before I could stop it.Beside me, Nora suddenly screamed, sharp and loud. "Why did you push me? Mom, it hurts!"She was on the ground as well, crying so loudly that it rang in my ears.Dad rushed over immediately and pulled me into his arms, shielding me.But Mom and Matthew ran up and started accusing me."Alicia, why did you push Nora?""I didn't!" I shouted, forcing the words past the lump in my throat.Nora pointed at me, crying harder. "She did! She pushed me on purpose!"Anger surged up so fast that it left me breathless.Dad's voice turned cold. "Check the surveillance. If you don't trust Alicia, let the security footage speak for itself."Mom didn't answer. She picked Nora up and turned away, tossing a sentence over her shoulder."Please. The footage will only make her look worse."They hurried toward the first aid station.My face

More Chapters

You may also like

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status