Chapter 3

The doorbell suddenly rang.

I placed the plate in the drying rack,wiped the moisture from the corner of my eye,and went to open the door.

“Claire Miller?I need your signature.”

It was the graduation packet from my university.

The moment I held the envelope,something inside me suddenly felt lighter.

I could finally leave.

“What is it?”

Noah stood behind me holding a cup of coffee.He noticed the smile on my face.

“My graduation documents.”

He said,“Oh,”walked two steps away,then stopped.

“What do you want as a graduation present?I promised I’d get you something.”

I had not expected him to remember.

But I had never truly expected a gift either.

After thinking for a few seconds,I looked up at him.

“Come with me to the travel clinic tomorrow.I need some vaccinations.”

The company required employees assigned abroad to update their vaccinations so there would be no problems with immigration or insurance reviews.

“That’s all?”He sounded surprised.

“That’s all.”

He agreed without giving it much thought.

The next afternoon,I put the appointment papers in my bag and waited by the door.

Noah came out wearing that familiar look of exasperation.

“Ellie still needs a few outfits for the trip.I’ll take her to the outlet mall first,then come back and go with you.”

“My appointment is already scheduled.”

“Then reschedule it.She leaves tomorrow.Obviously,hers is more urgent.”

I was about to respond when Ellie’s eyes turned red.She twisted the hem of her shirt and said softly,“Forget it.I won’t buy anything.Go with Claire.”

Noah refused at once.

“Don’t be ridiculous.It’s your first time in Rome.Of course you need a few nice outfits.”

After saying that,he seemed to realize how openly biased he sounded,so he threw the decision at me.

“What do you think,Claire?”

He looked at me,his eyes urging me to give the right answer.

They pretended the choice was mine.

But we all knew I could only say what they wanted to hear.

I was silent for a few seconds.Then I smiled.

“Go with her.”

Noah visibly relaxed.

Ellie ran over and kissed my cheek.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

I took the bus to the clinic alone.

After getting my shots,I booked a seat on a long-distance bus to Chicago for the next day.

When I got home,Ellie was showing off the clothes she had bought.At the end,she held up two shopping bags containing gifts for our parents.

Mom beamed.The moment she saw me from the corner of her eye,her smile faded.

“Look how thoughtful Ellie is.Even when she goes shopping,she remembers us.When have you ever bought anything for this family?”

“With what money?”

Before Ellie left,Mom had put a thousand dollars on the authorized-user card tied to her account.Mom knew perfectly well that Ellie had used their money to buy those gifts,yet she still used them as a weapon against me.

“What is that supposed to mean?”Mom froze,then raised her voice.“Are you blaming me for not giving you money?You’re twenty-four years old.Why are you still competing with your little sister?”

“I’m twenty-four.She’s twenty-three.”

“Enough!”Dad snapped.“You’re a grown woman.Do you really have to fight with your mother over a few gifts?”

Noah frowned at me too.

“Claire,why have you become so difficult lately?”

With everyone on her side,Mom’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

She covered her face and went to her bedroom as if she had been the one wronged all along.