That night, I barely slept.
The next morning, my phone buzzed.
It was a text from Dad.
“Come to your sister’s house. I’ve prepared a little ‘surprise’ for her.”
I called him immediately.
“What kind of surprise?”
“Something your sister needs to see.”
“Dad, please don’t make things worse.”
“Just come, sweetheart.”
I quickly got dressed, grabbed my keys, and drove to Amanda’s house.
Her car was sitting in the driveway, completely untouched. I felt ridiculous for briefly wondering whether Dad had painted it.
Amanda opened the door before I knocked.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“Dad asked me to come.”
“Of course he did.”
She stepped aside reluctantly.
Dad was standing beside the dining table. In front of him sat an old wooden jewelry box, a faded photograph, and several printed pages.
The box was covered in childish drawings. Flowers decorated the lid, and uneven letters spelled out “Happy Birthday, Daddy.”
