The franchise made Lauren waver for a second. “Of course”, she quickly corrected herself. “I meant that… you’ve grown so much. I thought of you every day. “
“It’s funny”, Clara said, her voice cold. “We didn’t think about you at all. “
I have never been so proud of my daughters.
Lauren cleared her throat, visibly taken aback by their hostility. “I came back for a reason. I have something for you. “
“We are blind.
Isn’t that why you left us? “
She pulled two bags of clothes from behind her and carefully placed them on our couch. Then it produced a thick envelope, the kind that makes a heavy noise when it hits a surface.
My chest tightened as I watched her stage this little performance.
“These are designer dresses”, she says, opening a bag to reveal expensive fabric. “The kind of dresses you girls could never afford. And there’s money here too. Enough to change your lives. “
Emma’s hands found Clara’s and they squeezed.
“For what? “I asked, my voice hoarse. “Why now? After 18? “
“Why now?
After 18? “
Lauren smiled, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Because I want to find my daughters. I want to give them the life they deserve. “
She took out a folded document and placed it on top of the envelope. “But there is a condition. “
The room suddenly felt smaller, as if the walls were closing.
“What condition? “Emma asks, her voice trembling slightly.
Lauren’s smile widened. “It’s simple, my darling. You can have all that… dresses, money, everything. But you have to choose ME or your father. “
The words hung in the air like poison.
“ME or your father. “
“You have to publicly acknowledge that he let you down”, she added. That he kept you in poverty while I worked to build a better future. That you choose to come live with me because I can REALLY provide for you. “
My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “You’re crazy. “
“Really? “She turned to me, looking triumphant. “I’m giving them an opportunity. What did you give them? A cramped apartment and a few sewing classes? Please! “
Emma held out the document, her fingers brushing against it uncertainly. “Dad, what does that say? “
“You must acknowledge publicly
that he let you down. “
I took it from him, my hands shaking as I read the typed words aloud. It was a contract… stating that Emma and Clara would report me as an inadequate father and credit Lauren for their success and well-being.
“She wants you to give up on me”, I said softly, my voice breaking. “In exchange for money. “
Clara’s face turned pale. “It’s unhealthy. “
“It’s business”, Lauren corrected. “And it’s a limited time offer. Make up your mind now. “
Emma stood up slowly, her hand finding the silver envelope. She picked it up, feeling its weight. “That’s a lot of money”, she said softly.
My heart split. “Emma… “
She wants you to give up on me
“Let me finish, Dad. “She turned towards where Lauren was standing. “It’s a lot of money. Probably more than we’ve ever had in one go. “
Lauren’s smile became smug.
“But you know what’s funny? “Emma continues, her voice gaining strength. “We never needed it. We had everything that really matters. “
Clara got up too, moving to stand next to her sister. “We had a father who stayed. Who taught us. Who loved us when we were hard to love.”
“Who made sure we never felt broken”, Emma adds.
Lauren’s smile fades.
“It’s a lot of money.
Probably more than
we never had it all at once. “
“We don’t want your money”, Clara said firmly. “We don’t want your dresses. And we don’t want YOU. “
Emma lifted the envelope high, then tore it up and threw the bills in the air. The money fluttered, cascading like confetti. The bills drifted and scattered across the floor, onto Lauren’s expensive shoes.
“You can keep it”, Emma said. “We are not for sale. “
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