Chapter 15

Tessa

"Yes Mom, I'm already at home. I'm about to enter the house now." I said to my mom on the phone. "Are you together with your father?"

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. Not at the fact that she was asking whether we were together but the use of the word 'father' It hit my nerves deeply. "No. He still has some work to do at school. I return home alone." I mustered up and answered. I don't even think it would be a good idea to come home together with him. Firstly, no one should know I am connected to him in any way. I had barely gotten familiar with the new school. I don't want to be the talk of the school. Or for anyone to give me special treatment because I was his stepdaughter.

"Alright then. I made some soup before leaving. You can heat it up and boil potatoes. I will be back a bit late. My boss was invited to a dinner meeting, so she wants me to tag along."

"No problem Mom. Take care."

"Sure. Talk to you later." and the line went dead silent. I closed the door behind me a