“You still see me as the same screw-up kid, huh? I’m not that guy anymore.”
“I don’t believe that,” I said. “People don’t just change overnight.”
“You’ve always hated me, Tara.
Always waiting for me to fail.”
“You disappeared! When Dad got sick, I was the one holding everything together! You have no idea how hard it’s been.”
“Then hire someone,” he snapped.
“Get a nurse or whatever.”
“Oh sure,” I laughed bitterly. “And who’s paying for that? The air?”
“I can pay,” he said quickly.
“I’ve got money now.”
“Right,” I said. “From what, magic beans?”
He just shook his head and walked out, slamming the door behind him. Weeks passed, and things only got stranger.
Dad began complaining that his things were vanishing, a few books from his collection, some jewelry, even part of his savings. Every time he mentioned it, my chest tightened. I didn’t need proof.
I already knew who to blame. But one morning, when I was heading out, I found a woman at the doorstep in a pale blue uniform, holding a clipboard. “Good morning,” she said politely.
“I’m Laura. Your brother hired me to take care of your father.”
“He what?”
“He said you could use some help.”
I hesitated, studying her calm, professional smile.I didn’t know what to say. So I simply stepped aside and let her in.
I didn’t waste time. That same morning, I drove straight to Caleb’s apartment. When he opened the door, I barely gave him a chance to speak.
“Dad’s things keep disappearing,” I said. Caleb leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “And of course, you think it’s me.”
“Who else would it be?” I shot back.
“You show up after six years, and suddenly things start going missing? You think I’m stupid?”
“You always need someone to blame, don’t you? Maybe look a little closer to home.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” he said.
“But if you’re so sure I’m the thief, call the police. Get it over with.”
“I just might,” I snapped and turned on my heel. But I didn’t.
I couldn’t bring myself to drag the family into something like that. Instead, a different idea took root in my mind, something that would finally prove who was lying. I drove to a tech store and bought two small security cameras.
I set them up: one in the living room, another in Dad’s room, hidden behind a photo frame. No one knew. Not Dad, not Derek, and definitely not Caleb.
Two days later, Dad mentioned more money missing from his safe. My hands shook as I opened my laptop that day. The footage was clear.
I pressed play. At first, all I saw was Dad dozing in bed. Then Caleb appeared.
He knelt beside the old safe, pulled out a stack of bills, and counted them. My heart sank — I was right. But then, after a few seconds, he sighed, placed every dollar back, locked the safe, and left.
He didn’t take a thing. “What the hell…” I whispered. I clicked forward in the footage, scanning through the next few hours.
Around midnight, another figure appeared. It was Derek. He moved quietly, glancing over his shoulder before crouching beside the safe.
His hands trembled as he opened it and slipped several bills into his pocket. Then he walked out as if nothing had happened. I sat there, staring at the screen, unable to breathe.
That evening, when Derek came home, I was waiting by the door. He smiled tiredly, hanging his coat, but froze when he saw my face. “I know it was you,” I said quietly.
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t,” I warned. “You’ve been stealing from my father.”
“So Caleb told you,” he said after a pause.
“What?” I blinked. “Why would Caleb—”
“He caught me once,” Derek said. “He promised he wouldn’t say anything if I stopped and told you myself.”
“He knew?
And you let me keep accusing him?”
“I was ashamed. I lost my job months ago. I didn’t know how to tell you.
I thought I could just… borrow some money until things got better.”
“Borrow?” I repeated. “You lied to me. You made me hate my brother when he was the only one protecting you.”
“Tara, please—”
“Don’t.
I can’t even look at you right now. Just go.”
He hesitated, then nodded slowly and walked out, closing the door behind him. When the silence settled, I grabbed my keys and drove without thinking.
By the time I reached Caleb’s apartment, my hands were shaking. He opened the door, and before he could say a word, I burst into tears. “I’m so sorry,” I said, choking on the words.
He stepped forward and pulled me into a hug, the kind that said more than words ever could. “Thank you for coming back, Caleb. And for trying to protect me.”
“You’re my sister,” he said quietly.
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