Chapter 3

I went home that night and didn’t sleep. I took out all my recent tests and went over them again and again…

After that, no matter how exhausting or difficult studying became, I never complained. Through those days when no one supported or encouraged me, I kept going on my own.

Finally, June passed, and my final exam results came out.

Tears slid down my face as I stared at those high scores. I’d made it. For once, life had given me a break.

My parents asked, “How’d you do?”

“Really well.”

They seemed happy, too.

At dinner, Dad told my brother, “If your sister can get into college, you’ll definitely get into one of the best in the country, Caleb. What are those places called again…?”

“Harvard. Yale,” Mom chimed in happily. “Those fancy schools back East!”

Dad seemed to be looking straight into his son’s glorious future. He had a couple of extra drinks that night.

I was the one who’d earned a place in college, but all he could talk about was how his son would make it to the Ivy League.

His good mood didn’t even last three days.

A local kid getting into college should have been something to celebrate.

Instead, people grew jealous.

They’d congratulate us to our faces, then turn around and ask what good college did a girl. She’d only end up married with children anyway.

Dad hated hearing it, but he also thought they had a point.

Four years of tuition would cost tens of thousands. Better to save it for my brother’s future wedding and home.

My brother fanned the flames. “Seriously, Claire, college is useless for a girl. And it costs so much.”

I swallowed my anger and said nothing.

That night, Mom came to my room. “Claire, we really can’t afford to put two children through college. If you spend that money now, what will be left for your brother?”

“Your dad and I talked. You won’t be going. Once things settle down, I’ll find someone to introduce you to. I like that young Miller boy from the next town. The mayor’s son. Handsome, too…”

“Mom!” I shouted. “Have you ever thought about me? Even once?”

She froze and fell silent.

Things at home turned ugly. Dad raged that he wouldn’t pay a penny toward my tuition.

I was afraid he wouldn’t even give me bus fare when it was time to leave. After worrying for days, I secretly called Emily for help.

I started crying as soon as she answered. She told me not to panic. The manager where she worked was hiring summer help. I should come try.

It was a barbecue restaurant in town, the sort of place people with money went to eat.

The manager took one look at my shabby clothes and shook his head. “No. She looks awful. Our staff at least need to look presentable.”

It felt like a slap. My face burned.

Emily begged him to give me a trial shift.

He hesitated, then agreed.

Once he saw that I worked fast, learned quickly, could handle the register, and knew how to cook, he reluctantly let me stay for two months.

All my parents knew was that I got up at four in the morning and came home at ten at night. They knew I had a job, but not where.

So I never expected to run into them at the restaurant one day.