Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 27227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27227 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
In hindsight, I’m surprised the arrangement has even lasted this long because my father had a decent life insurance policy. Fiona could have used it to send me away to school like she had wanted when Dad was alive. But like a fool, she dumped the money into her design business, and sure enough, the funds disappeared like smoke. Fiona’s been a bank teller ever since, although she still talks like she’s a fashion designer.
Such is life. It’s been a tough ten years, but I’ve gotten used to it. Yes, I’m lonely, but whenever I feel particularly alone, I take out a picture I have of me and Daddy. My father’s smile always makes me smile, although sometimes tears come to my eyes.
“Why are you still sitting there? I told you to get out of my house!” Fiona’s voice screeches and I jump.
“Please, can we talk about this? I promise I’ll pay half of the living expenses as soon as I get a job. I just need a little time.”
Fiona merely yawns and stares at her nails again, picking at a small chip. Then she looks at me and sniggers.
“Sure, that sounds good … not. Shut up, Caitlin. I said I want you out of my house, and that’s final.”
“Give me a week, at least, to find a place to go.” I hate the pleading tone in my voice, but things are getting desperate. Unfortunately, my stepmom just looks bored.
“No, I told you to get out of my house and I meant it. What are you still doing here?”
“Right this minute?” I gasp. “Not even later tonight? At least give me a chance to pack. Fiona, come on!”
She merely bends over and hisses, spittle flying in my face.
“Get. Out. Now!”
How did this escalate so quickly? It’s clear my stepmother means what she’s saying, and I jump up from my desk and scurry around the room in a panic. My backpack from school is leaning against my closet, so I grab it and throw a few random things inside.
I don’t even know what I’m doing, to be honest, but I manage to remember my phone charger and the ancient laptop my friend gave me when her parents bought her a new one.
“Your time is up,” Fiona hisses. “Get the hell out of here and don’t you dare think of coming back.”
Without glancing over my shoulder, I scurry out of the room, down the stairs, and out the front door. Tears fill my eyes, but in truth, I’m so shocked that they don’t fall. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what’s happened, and to figure out what comes next.
After all, where am I going to go? What am I going to do? Should I give Fiona some time to calm down? Maybe if I wander the neighborhood for an hour or two, she’ll have changed her mind and I can come back.
I begin by purposefully striding down the street, trying to look confident. For the first time ever, I’m angry with my father for putting me in this position. If he hadn’t married Fiona, this never would have happened. Maybe I would have ended up in a group home, but surely that’s better than this.
Once I’m about five blocks away, the desperation of my situation hits me. I’m all alone with nothing but the clothes on my back and a bag full of random things. I’m not even sure I have my driver’s license with me. How will I find a place to stay?
Tears spill from my eyes and I lean forward, letting out a huge sob. I always knew that Fiona had it out for me, but I had no idea another human being could be so cruel. Evidently, evil stepmothers really do exist, but I’m no Cinderella. There’s no Prince Charming waiting for me, nor is there a pumpkin chariot ready to squire me to a fancy ball. Instead, I’m broke, alone, and homeless, with no idea what to do next.
2
Caitlin
* * *
The sky darkens above me. Oh shit, oh shit, it’s going to rain and I’ll be soaked within minutes. Desperately, I dig my phone out of my back pocket and call the only person I can think to call.
“Hey, Cait!” my best friend, Cammie, answers. Her voice is chipper, and my heart leaps.
“Hey Cam.”
“What’s going on? You sound hoarse.”
I let out a rough chuckle.
“It’s been a long afternoon. Fiona kicked me out.”
“What the heck?” she gasps.
I take a deep breath. “Yeah, she said I was a freeloader and that she wanted to kick me out the second I graduated but out of the kindness of her heart, she let me stay a little longer.”
I don’t want to relive the conversation with my stepmother again. I’m glad that Cammie senses this and doesn’t push. But then there’s a crash in the background and Cammie sighs. “Hang on one second,” she apologizes.