‘Those were Roussou. Cops wouldn’t let us out. Someone reported they would b there. Had a mtg all day over it.’

And that explained Logan’s absence.

I was about to reply when a car drove past me. The red brake lights lit up and it slowed as it turned into my old driveway. David didn’t park in the garage. He stopped inside the driveway and turned the car off. As he headed my way, I groaned again.

I thumbed a quick text. ‘Talking to my dad. Call u l8r.’

When David bent down and peered inside my car, I slid the phone in my pocket. It vibrated back at me, but I got out of the car. The night was still cool. There was a drizzle in the air, but I never felt it. The old numb feeling had returned. It doubled as I faced my old father over the top of my car.

“Sam?” He frowned. He was wearing the Academy apparel and I figured he had come from their basketball game. The coaches tried to support each other. “What are you doing here?”

“I…” I had no words.

His small grin turned into a small frown. He raked a hand over his head. “You look tired, Samantha. Come inside?”

“Why?”

“Because.” He shrugged. “It’s Friday night. You were parked here when I came home. I don’t know. I’d like to visit with you. I did raise you, you know.”

And I felt sheepish. “I know.”

“Come inside. I’ll make that hot chocolate you liked when you were little.”

“I’m almost eighteen.” But I shut my car door and started to follow him.

He grinned over his shoulder as he led the way. “Let’s pretend you’re still eight. You were more fun then.”

“Dad!”

He chuckled as he opened the door and held it open for me.

When he flipped the lights on, I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t blink. Everything was the same. The same two white couches were still there. Analise had bought them, but they weren’t good enough to take with us when we moved. The piano that was stationed between them, against the far wall, was still in place. Even the same sheet music was there, to the same page that I had left from my last practice six months ago.

Then I turned and everything became blurry. My vision grew unsteady and I saw a small box tucked behind the plastic tree Analise purchased at a retail store. I had thought I’d forgotten it, but now I went to it and slid to my knees. Then, with my heart pounding and a giant basketball in my throat, I turned over the lid and my chest tightened like a lynchpin.

“Yeah.” His voice was rough. But he coughed and he tried to hide the emotion.

The lynchpin moved and everything was sucked out of me at once. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe.

David added, but his voice drifted away. I knew he looked away. “I haven’t done much with the place. I know I should. Malinda keeps telling me it’s not normal, but…”

I knew he saw the box.

I gulped. Silent tears slid down my cheeks.

“Sam?”

I couldn’t look away from the photos. Everything was in that box. There were photos of Analise and David’s wedding, their honeymoon, some of their dates, our holidays, everything. My first day of kindergarten was in there. My last day of kindergarten. My first day of first grade, last day. My first dance recital, the horrible green frilly skirt Analise swore I looked adorable in. The program from the first play I was in, and the program of the community show I was a lead character in. All of it. My first date with Jeff. The times when Jessica and Lydia would come over.

All of my life was chronicled in those pictures and memorabilia.

The tee shirt from the one week of camp I had attended.

Another wave of tears rushed over me, but right behind was anger. Fury.

She had left all those pictures behind and she hadn’t cared.

“Sam?”

His hand touched my shoulder and I whirled around. My chest was now heaving. My tears wouldn’t stop. My mouth hung open as I gaped for breath.

“Sam?” His eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong?” Then he looked down at my feet.

Blindly, I looked around. When had I stood?

“Oh.”

I spat out a sound. I didn’t know what it was. Anguish, revulsion. I didn’t care. My eyes were bright. The tears shimmered in my depths. “She looked at this box. She looked at it and she kicked it to the side.”

I was going mad. I shook my head. Everything was swimming around me.

“Sam, calm down.”

I saw his hand reach for my shoulder, but I reeled away. Everything was coursing through me. “Everything was packed up. We came inside to see if we’d forgotten anything. Mason and Logan stayed outside, but James came in. He asked her here, in the living room, if she had everything. She was looking at the piano. How could she not have seen the box? But then, no…then she walked closer to the piano and her foot moved out.” I gasped. “She kicked the box away. Why would she do that?”

I turned now and met his gaze. The pity broke me. Sobs reared back up and I bent over, gasping for breath.

“Samantha.”

I shook my head and pushed him away again. “No. NO. She knew what was in that box and left it on purpose.” My head snapped back up. I spat out, “That was my life. Those pictures are my life. Not just hers!”

“I know.” His voice was soft.

I gasped again, reeling. Oh god. Oh god.

Then everything stopped. I jerked back upright and turned swiftly for the door.

“Sam. What are you doing?” The pity was gone. His concern was evident.

I shrugged him away, for the millionth time, and whirled around. “Get off me.”

“What are you going to do?” He tried to block me at the door.

I shoved him away and snarled, “Get off!”

“Sam!”

I threw the door open and hurried to my car. I couldn’t move fast enough. My heart was racing. Everything was tumbling away.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

David yelled my name until I was in the car and turned around. The drive to the mansion didn’t take long, not when I was speeding, and I slammed the front door shut behind me when I entered. “Analise!”

Nothing.

I knew they were home. His car was there. Her car was beside his. They couldn’t have gone without them.

“Analise!”

“Good gracious, Samantha.” She sounded annoyed from down the hallway. Her high heels pitter-pattered down the tiled floor.