"GRACE LYNN!" My dad roared.
I could feel the hotness as the red painted my face. My hands still held the lid of the box and I froze. What was he doing home so early?
"What are you doing?!" His eyes were fixated on my hands and the box.
"I, uh, I," my words fumbled from my lips.
My dad reached towards the box, "I am in disbelief you would be so sneaky," he said as his hands inched closer towards the box. I jerked it away.
"No!" I finally managed. My heart jumped into my throat and my face felt like it was now on fire, burning red.
"Excuse me?" Dad asked. I could hear the fury in his tone.
"I've waited long enough! I deserve to know who my mom was!"
His eyes flared with anger. I hadn't too often spoken back to my father, nor had I broken any promises. That was until that moment.
He grabbed the box from my hands, "Go to your room, Grace!" He said furiously.
"Caleb..." Chloe, who had sat with wide eyes, finally spoke up, "She just wants to know about Jayna. Cut her a break."
He looked at her in disbelief, "She is being disrespectful, something I will not tolerate," then his attention turned back towards me, "Grace, to your room."
I got up from the table, shoving my chair back under it, "This isn't fair! You have kept her all to yourself! If I'm being disrespectful, it's only because you are being selfish!" I shouted at him. Before he could say another word, I ran to my room, slamming the door.
Tears were rolling down my face as I collapsed onto my bed, burying my face into the pillows. I couldn't understand why my dad would want to keep me from knowing who my mom was. It made no sense. I could hear Chloe and Dad talking in the kitchen. I wondered if Chloe was defending my actions or consoling him. I contemplated going back out there and ripping that shoe box from his hands. I thought about just running away, but I had nowhere to run and that thought made me cry harder. I felt so helpless, so empty, and so confused.
I told myself I wouldn't talk to my dad anymore. If I had to, I would stay locked in my room all summer. Since he wanted to act like my mom never existed, I would give him a dose of his own medicine and make sure he felt like he didn't exist to me. I soon ran out of the energy to even think and eventually cried myself to sleep.
A tap on the door woke me up. When my eyes came open, I wondered how long I had been asleep. I stayed with my back turned towards the door, as it creaked open. I cringed at the thought of it being my dad. But I was determined to give him the silent treatment.
"Grace?" I heard Chloe's sweet voice say, "You okay, sweetie?" She sat down on my bed behind me.
I never turned around. I had nothing to say so I didn't even attempt to open my mouth. I wasn't mad at her, I just didn't know what could be said. One thing was certain, I wasn't okay.
"You don't have to talk to me, if you don't want to," she said to me, almost like she had read my mind. I stayed with my back towards her.
"I spoke with your dad and I think when you're ready, maybe you should too. I don't think he was keeping that box from you to be selfish," she said.
I could feel the anger and resentment rapidly boiling inside of me. My face heated up as I rolled over to face her. Before I could think about it, words flew out of my mouth like daggers.
"You have no clue!" I growled. "I have no idea who makes up the other part of me. I have spent years fishing for answers only to be treated as if my mom never existed! If he loved her so much then why doesn't he talk about her? Why wouldn't he want me to know?" My voice shook and tears formed once again in my already swollen eyes.
