Time stood still. Finally, I answered in a barely audible voice, “Vee did.”
“Vee lied.”
My throat grew heavy, tears filling my eyes as I stared at him. “But … but why would she do that?” I whispered.
“Because she’s not right in the head.” He tapped his skull. “She thought you’d leave as soon as you turned eighteen, so she made up a fictional inheritance to keep you with her longer.”
I blinked in disbelief. “But that doesn’t even make any sense. Vee hates me. She resents me living with her. And besides, it wasn’t the prospect of an inheritance that kept me with her. I had no other place to go. Ever since dad died, I’ve been worried she might kick me out onto the street, and she never failed to give me cause to believe she’d do it. So, why would she lie about there being money?”
“Don’t bother trying to find logic in it. I’ve given up trying to make sense of her choices,” he said, and I thought he was talking about something else for a second. He brought his eyes to mine. “She doesn’t hate you though. She’s just incapable of showing love. If you knew her history you’d understand. Your father was the love of her life, and I think having you around makes her feel like she still has a connection to him. She’s been terrified of you leaving her and losing that connection.”
A tear broke free, trickling down my face. I didn’t want to believe what he was telling me. If it was true, then my plans were over. I couldn’t go travelling like I wanted. Probably couldn’t go to college either without having the money to support myself. I could get a part-time job, but I’d never earn enough to afford rent and food and utilities. I could scrape by, but it would be miserable. I was sick of living hand to mouth, and I was so ready for the struggle to be over. Maybe life was endless struggle and relief from that was a myth.
A dark cloud settled over me.
“Think about it, Estella. Your dad was a construction worker and he died young. It’s highly unlikely he had very much in the way of savings. He had life insurance that paid out after he died, but all that money went to my sister. I’m sure she’s drunk most of it by now.”
Fury coursed through my veins, hardening them to stone. How cruel was she to lie to me like this? I didn’t believe Noah’s theory that she did it to keep me close. I think she did it because it was the ultimate cruelty. Vee gave me years of hope, only to break my spirit when the truth was finally revealed.
But my spirit was far from broken. In fact, I’d never felt stronger. Anger fuelled me now. I withdrew my hands from Noah’s and stood from the table. “Take me home.”
Noah nodded and went to pay the bill. I didn’t speak at all on the drive back, instead I fumed quietly, preparing exactly what I was going to say to Vee. I didn’t care anymore about her throwing me out. Her lie made something in me snap. I was too enraged to think rationally.
Pulling out my phone, I sent Aoife a text to see if I could stay with her for a few days. She answered back yes, asking if everything was all right. I told her I’d fill her in once I got to her place.
Twenty minutes later, Noah pulled into the driveway at Vee’s house. It was dark out as I climbed from the car.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Estella,” Noah called after me, but I ignored him. I was like the Terminator now, on a mission and impossible to stop. The house was quiet when I entered. Sylvia sat in the living room watching the nine o’clock news. I strode down the hall to my bedroom, pulled my old backpack out from under the bed and started packing. A half an hour later everything I owned was crammed into it, all except for my books. I’d have to come back for those.
I must’ve made a hell of a racket because Vee stomped her way into my room.
“What are you doing?” she demanded.
I turned to face her, deathly calm. This woman had played a horrible, evil trick on me, and I wanted to hurt her. I had to stem the urge to launch myself at her and clasp my hands around her neck. The anger was unlike any I’d ever experienced; it frightened me a little. I felt possessed by a strength and fury that wasn’t my own. Or maybe it was. Maybe it lay dormant all these years, just waiting for the right catalyst to bring it out.
A shadowy haze crossed my vision.