Chapter 4
Narrator's Pov
"Mom, we need to find a way to get Dad to hate Fiona. I can't stand her anymore," Caroline said, taking another bite of pizza.
"But if she's gone, who would do the chores? I can't stand being in the kitchen, and neither can you. We're keeping her," Valerie replied.
"Ugh! I hate being around her. Why didn't she die when her mother died?" Caroline spat angrily.
"Honey, we have to play along. We can't let him know what we're really thinking."
Just then, they heard a car horn outside.
"Isn't that Dad?" Caroline asked.
"Quickly, cover this up. Take them to the kitchen."
Caroline immediately grabbed the pizza and ice cream and rushed into the kitchen while Valerie went to the door.
"Hey, honey. Did you forget something?" Valerie asked, forcing a smile.
"Actually, I forgot some paperwork," Duncan replied before rushing toward his office.
As he reached his desk, his eyes landed on Fiona's room key.
He picked it up and headed downstairs.
"Honey, Fiona isn't out yet?"
"Um... Caroline couldn't find the keys, and you had already left. We were looking for them before you came back," Valerie said quickly.
"My fault. I'll just let her out, then."
He turned and headed toward Fiona's room.
"What now?" Caroline whispered, staring at her mother.
"He'll leave once she's out, and then we can enjoy our meal."
Valerie smirked before returning to the dining room.
Duncan quickly inserted the key into the lock and turned the knob.
"Honey..."
He stopped.
The room was empty.
"Fiona?"
There was no answer.
He stepped inside and looked around. His eyes landed on the wardrobe.
He opened it.
Fiona's clothes were gone.
Duncan stood there, speechless.
Then his eyes moved toward the window.
It was open.
His stomach dropped.
Fiona was gone.
He rushed downstairs.
"Honey, where's Fiona?" he asked, his breathing uneven.
Valerie looked at him innocently.
"What do you mean, where's Fiona?"
"Her bags are gone, and her window is open." His voice shook. "She... she ran away."
---
Fiona's POV
"Ivy, make yourself at home. In the meantime, you can watch TV until I get back. Mason's lunch is in the fridge, so please let him know when he gets home."
"I will," I replied with a smile.
"God bless you, my child."
She smiled at me before leaving and shutting the door behind her.
I looked around the house again, and for once in my life, I felt relaxed.
There was no Valerie yelling at me.
No Caroline ordering me around.
No one watching my every move.
I went upstairs, took a shower, and changed into a pair of shorts and a long-sleeved top.
I took the plate of food from the dining table and sat down to eat, my mind racing with thoughts.
I wondered if they had noticed I was gone yet.
Dad probably would have gone to work without even checking on me. Valerie, as usual, would be busy with her own routine.
Well, that was their problem now.
I needed to save up for college and start my life over. To do that, I'd need somewhere to work and earn enough money to support myself.
I couldn't depend on anyone forever.
After finishing my food, I decided to look around the neighbourhood for somewhere hiring.
I quickly went upstairs and changed into a pair of shorts and a shirt. I pulled on a hoodie to cover my face, then left the house.
The street wasn't too busy, and I walked slowly, scanning the shops as I went.
I passed a small bookstore with a sign that read Page & Co. Next door was a cozy coffee shop called Café Delight, with the smell of freshly brewed coffee drifting through the air.
Across the street, a small café had outdoor seating filled with people chatting and laughing. There was also a convenience store, a clothing boutique, and a few other shops.
I kept looking for a Help Wanted sign.
Then I spotted one outside a restaurant.
NOW HIRING SERVERS.
I immediately walked inside.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked cookies filled the air. Several servers moved around the restaurant, occasionally glancing in my direction.
I took a breath and approached the nearest person.
A tall guy with a friendly smile walked toward me.
"Hey, what can I get for you?"
"I actually saw the sign outside about the server position. I'm interested in applying."
His expression changed from friendly to professional.
"Ah, you must be here about the job. I'm the manager. Follow me to the office, please."
I followed him toward the back.
One of the female servers watched me as I passed. There was something about the way she looked at me that made me uncomfortable, but I ignored it and followed the manager into his office.
We sat down, and he looked at me.
"So, tell me a little about yourself. Why are you interested in working here?"
"I'm Ivy," I said, trying to sound confident.
He nodded.
"Great, Ivy. Are you from around here?"
I didn't want to give away too much.
"Yeah, I'm from around here. I'm taking care of my sick grandma, and I'll be around for a while. I'm looking for a job with flexible hours."
The manager nodded sympathetically.
"That's good of you. We can work with your schedule. So you're looking for something flexible?"
"Yes. That would be perfect. I need something that will help me take care of my grandma and pay the bills."
He leaned back in his chair.
"Alright. The pay is ten dollars an hour, plus tips."
I felt relieved.
It wasn't much, but it was a start.
"That sounds great. Thank you."
He smiled and stood up.
"Great, Ivy. You can start tomorrow. We'll get you trained and ready to go."
He opened a drawer and pulled out a couple of uniforms.
"Here. See if they fit."
I took them from him, feeling excited and nervous at the same time.
By the time I got home, Mason was already back.
It looked like he'd only been home for a short while. The smell of food filled the house, and the refrigerator door was still open.
"Hey!" I called.
He turned around, startled.
"Jeez! You scared me."
"Sorry," I said immediately.
"Where the hell were you? I thought you decided to run away."
"I went for a stroll," I replied, already walking away.
"The door was open!" he yelled.
I stopped and turned around.
"I closed it."
"It has a lock, Ivy. Next time, please lock it!"
"I'm sorry."
I immediately went upstairs.
I didn't want to break down in front of anybody, not even Mason.
I hated being yelled at.
Maybe I should have been used to it by now because Valerie did it all the time.
But who really gets used to being dragged through the mud?
I guess... no one.
I wiped my tears and reached for the door handle, but before I could open it, I heard Mason's voice downstairs.
He was on the phone.
"Grandpa, there's a girl staying here."
I stopped.
I couldn't hear the other side of the conversation, but Mason's expression suddenly became serious.
"Her name is Ivy. Grandma says she has nowhere else to go, but something about her doesn't feel right."
My hand tightened around the door handle.
Was he talking about me?
"I think she's hiding something," he continued. "I'll keep an eye on her."