4
I was sleeping soundly when Chloe woke me
- up.
“I’m hungry,” she said impatiently. “Make me
something to eat.”
I checked the time. It was midnight.
く
The old me would have jumped up and made
her favorite late–night snack.
I always felt she worked so hard at dance,
burning so many calories, so I never said no
when she was hungry.
But tonight, all I wanted to do was sleep.
I rolled over, closed my eyes, and said
nothing.
Chloe stormed out, slamming her bedroom
door.
A few minutes later, I heard her yelling, “Fine!
Starve me! See if I care!”
I ignored her and went back to sleep.
I don’t know how much time passed before I
was shaken awake again.
It was Chloe.
Her face was a mask of disbelief. “You really
didn’t sign me up for dance camp?” she
shrieked.
It was registration day. She’d gone bright and
early only to find out I hadn’t enrolled her.
I rubbed my eyes. “Didn’t I say you could
decide?”
Chloe stared at me, like she was seeing me
for the first time.
“Seriously?”
く
I shrugged. “Did I sign you up last time you
came back from your dad’s?”
She was speechless. “What are you playing
at?”
I smiled, but didn’t answer.
I’m just respecting your choices, I thought.
I’m not wasting my money anymore.
Chloe huffed. “Fine, then give me the money
you saved. Dad’s birthday is coming up. I
want to get him a Burberry coat.”
My heart sank.
Seventeen years I raised her, and I never even
got a “Happy Birthday.”
く
Her dad hadn’t paid a dime in child support,
and she wanted to buy him a Burberry coat?
“I didn’t set aside any money for dance
camp,” I said coldly.
Chloe stared at me, then said angrily, “You
think you can control me with this? I’m not
going to give in.’
“”
“If I hadn’t been so young and naive when I
was born, I would have chosen Dad.”
“If I’d grown up with him, I’d be so much
happier.”
“He wouldn’t control me and force me to do
things I don’t want to do.”
I laughed to myself. If you’d chosen your dad,
く
you’d probably be stuck in some trailer park
somewhere.
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I’m going
out.
وو
“Wait,” I said, stopping her.
She gave me an I–knew–it look. “See? Your
true colors are showing.”
“Since you and your dad are so close,” I said
calmly, “why don’t you call him over? The
three of us can talk about transferring
custody.”
Her eyes lit up. “You mean it? You won’t
back out?”
She dashed to her room to call him before I
L
could change my mind.
