Chapter 1 - The Keys
I turned toward the porch.
"Ray," I called out, my voice completely steady.
He looked up from the wooden steps, his eyes filled with a quiet kind of resignation.
He probably thought I was going to ask him to move out of the way.
He probably thought I was finally choosing the man who shared my DNA.
Instead, I pointed to the brand-new sedan sitting in our driveway.
"Toss me your old keys," I told him.
Ray blinked in surprise, patting the pockets of his faded work jeans.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because this new car is much safer for driving Danny and Cara around on the weekends," I said.
I looked back at my biological father, whose confident smile was beginning to slip.
"Ray's transmission is slipping, and he needs this more than I do," I explained.
I reached out and plucked the shiny key fob right out of my father's open palm.
I walked over to the porch and dropped the new keys directly into Ray's rough, calloused hands.
"Happy birthday to me, and happy new car to you, Ray," I said loudly.
My mother let out a breath she sounded like she had been holding for fourteen years.
Ray stared at the keys in his hand, entirely speechless.
My biological father, Richard, let out a low, humorless chuckle.
"That is a very cute little stunt, son," Richard said, adjusting his expensive suit jacket.
"But the title and insurance are strictly in your name."
"I can transfer a title," I fired back immediately.
Richard shook his head slowly, his eyes turning as cold as ice.
"You really cannot do that," he said smoothly.
"If you give that car to him, you violate the terms of the trust fund I set up for you."
I frowned, not understanding what he was talking about.
"I do not have a trust fund," I told him.
"You do as of this morning," Richard replied, stepping closer to our porch.
"And it contains exactly enough money to pay off the mortgage on this house."
Mom stepped forward, her face turning incredibly pale.
"What did you do, Richard?" she demanded.
"I bought the debt from your local bank, Sarah," he answered with a wicked grin.
"I own the deed to this house now."
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He pointed a finger directly at Ray's chest.
"If he drives that car, or if you refuse to let me back into my son's life, I will evict all of you by Friday."
