Chapter 9 - A True Family's Gift
Dana looked at the wedding ring sitting on the granite counter, then looked at Dad's stone-cold eyes. She realized there was no charm, no tears, and no manipulation that could save her now.
"You'll regret this, Adam," Dana hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "You'll be completely alone. Good luck raising these two brats by yourself."
"Mason is staying here," Mason suddenly blurted out, standing behind Grandma Ruth. "I want to stay with Adam and Nat."
Dana turned to her son, stunned. "Mason, get your coat right now!"
"No!" Mason yelled, his voice cracking. "You lied to everyone! You lied to me! Adam is the only dad who ever actually helped me with my homework and took me to baseball practice! I'm not going with you!"
Dana glared at her son with a look of pure betrayal, then spat on the tile floor, turned on her heel, and slammed the front door behind her. A moment later, her car engine roared to life, and the screech of tires echoed down the quiet street as she sped away.
The house fell completely silent.
Mason began to cry softly. Dad immediately walked over and wrapped his arms around the boy. "It's okay, Mason. You're safe. You're home. Nobody is making you leave."
While Dad held Mason, Grandma Ruth gently took my hand and led me toward the front hallway.
"Come with me, Natalie," Grandma whispered with a mysterious twinkle in her eye.
"Where are we going?" I asked, wiping away my own tears.
Grandma grabbed her heavy winter coat from the rack. "To the trunk of my Buick. Put your boots on."
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I followed Grandma out onto the snow-covered driveway. The crisp winter air bit at my cheeks. Grandma unlocked her car trunk, and the heavy lid popped open.
Sitting right in the center of the trunk, wrapped in beautiful silver paper with a giant purple velvet bow, was a large, flat rectangular box.
