Their Real Daughter Paralyzed Me. They Let Me Die.

Chapter 2

At 10 a.m., we went to the restaurant at the summit.

A server wheeled out a two-tier cake. The upper tier said Happy Anniversary.

Frosting flowers hid the lower tier. Only the word Welcome was partly visible.

I turned to Kelly. "What does it say underneath?"

She held the cake knife, her smile stiff. "The bakery made a mistake. It's probably a welcome-back message for returning guests."

Before she had even finished speaking, she smeared the frosting.

Mom urged me to make a wish.

I folded my hands and looked at the four people gathered around the table.

Every birthday, they used to make me wish for three things.

Now I closed my eyes and wished for only one: "I hope none of you ever forget what happens today."

After I blew out the candles, Mom cut a piece of strawberry cake and, by habit, set it before the empty seat beside us.

Dad nudged her elbow.

She came to her senses and pushed it toward Neil. "You like strawberry cake. Here."

He didn't take it.

"Alma can't have frosting. Bring her a fruit plate."

Since the crash, he'd kept saying sugar would slow my recovery. He wouldn't let me have even a bite of cake.

The server brought the fruit. I pushed the plate away.

"I want cake today."

Neil frowned. "You can't be careless with your health."

"The doctor never said I couldn't have it."

"I'm looking out for you."

He moved the cake farther away.

I reached for it in my wheelchair, but my skirt caught in the wheel.

I lost my balance and struck my forehead hard against the corner of the table.

Neil caught me at once. "Did you hit yourself? Are you hurt anywhere?"

He crouched before me and touched my forehead gently.

For a moment, the worry in his eyes made my throat tighten. I almost fell for it again.

Then glass shattered near the restaurant entrance.

Rita stood there in a white dress, a bandage around her wrist and a broken cup at her feet.

Neil went to her without a moment's hesitation.

Without his support, I slid off the edge of my wheelchair and landed on my knees.

My knees were numb, but the pain still brought tears to my eyes.

Mom walked right past me and grabbed Rita's hand. "Did you cut yourself? You have to be more careful."

Dad called for a server. Kelly took off her jacket and draped it over Rita's shoulders.

Not one of them looked back at me.

Clenching my teeth, I braced myself against the table and hauled myself back into the wheelchair, inch by inch.

One sharp sound from Rita had erased the concern Neil had shown me moments earlier.

I wiped my tears and set the wheelchair brake.

Neil was already beside her. "What are you doing here?" he asked quietly.

He was asking Rita.

Her eyes reddened. "I just wanted to see you all from a distance. I know Miss Mercer doesn't want to see me. I'll go."

I pressed the brake lever again and looked up at her.

"You're here now. Why don't you join us?"

Everyone turned toward me.

"Don't you hate me?" she asked in a small voice.

My nails bit into my palm. My voice shook, but I held her gaze.

"I do."

I pointed to the bruise on my forehead.

"Your wrist is hurt. I lost my child and the use of my legs. I just fell at your feet, and none of you even noticed."

Kelly said under her breath, "Rita didn't mean to do it."

"The police found that she was speeding and ran a red light."

"She wasn't in a good state of mind that day!"

Kelly shut her mouth as soon as the words escaped.

I looked at her. "How do you know that?"

The side doors of the banquet room suddenly opened. Colorful streamers filled the room.

A banner read:

Welcome Back, Rita!