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know how important this campaign is to me. How hard I’ve

worked. You doing something like this, something to sabotage

it, just proves that you can’t be taken seriously. You’re acting

out like a child. If you can’t find it in yourself to apologize and

be thankful for all that we’ve done for you, as well as

adjusting your attitude, you had better plan on staying away

for a good long while.”

“Peter!” Sandra cut in, but Emily didn’t stick around to hear

the rest of that.

She knew her parents needed time and space. She wasn’t

going to get anywhere tonight with everyone in a bad mood,

their guard up, and their hackles bristling like wild animals.

She really thought she could make her parents understand

without all the pissing and moaning, all the frustration and

anger, but apparently not. Apparently, they needed more time.

She ran through the hall and up the stairs where she ripped

her suitcase out of her closet. It had big daisies on the front

and a baby blue background. She threw in what clothes she

thought she’d need, a few pairs of shoes, her toiletries from

her bathroom, her laptop, her camera, the cash she’d managed

to take out of her accounts before they were frozen, and all the

jewelry from her jewelry box. Who knew when a pawn shop

might come in handy?

She lugged the heavy suitcase down the steps, then wheeled

it down the hall, past the living room, and right out the front

door.

No one stopped her.

She had no idea where she’d go if Dani wouldn’t let her

crash at her place for the night. She could try one of her

friends. They’d probably let her, but right now, she needed to