What are the downsides of being “the golden child” that no one talks about?

The Confrontation at the Cabin

“Are you okay?” Aunt Lisa asked once we were on the main road.

I burst into tears, all the fear and tension of the past 24 hours pouring out of me. Between sobs, I told her everything about the pregnancy test, about taking the blame, about how Lily had changed, and finally what she just told me about our dad’s threats. Aunt Lisa’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel by the time I finished.

“We need to get Lily out of there,” she said firmly.

“How? She won’t come willingly. I’m going to call CPS again,” she said. With what you’ve told me, they should be able to remove both of you immediately.

But when we got to Aunt Lisa’s house and she made the call, it wasn’t that simple. The CPS worker explained that without direct evidence of abuse, they couldn’t just remove Lily, especially since she denied any problems during their interview.

So what? We just leave her there? I asked, panic rising in my throat.

Aunt Lisa shook her head.

We’re not giving up. We just need to be smart about this.

For the next few days, I stayed at Aunt Lisa’s house, jumping every time the phone rang. I tried texting Lily, but her responses were short and vague.

I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Stay away for your own good.

Aunt Lisa went back to my parents house twice, ostensibly to check on things and bring some more of my stuff, but really to try to talk to Lily alone. She never managed it. My parents were always hovering, never leaving Lily alone with her.

A week passed, then another, I started going to school again, taking the bus from Aunt Lisa’s house. I’d see Lily in the hallways, but she’d avoid my eyes, walking quickly in the other direction if she saw me coming. It broke my heart. Then one day, about three weeks after I’d left home, Lily wasn’t at school.

I texted her, but got no response. I called the house, but no one answered. Panic clawed at my chest as I went through the rest of my classes, unable to focus on anything. After school, I took the bus to my old neighborhood instead of back to Aunt Lisa’s. I had to see if Lily was okay.

As I walked up our street, I noticed my dad’s car was gone, but my mom’s was still in the driveway. That was unusual. My mom almost never stayed home alone. I hesitated at the front door, then decided to try the back.

Using my old key, I quietly let myself in through the kitchen door. The house was silent. No TV, no voices, nothing. I crept through the kitchen toward the stairs, my heart pounding.

Lily, I called softly.

Mom, no answer.

I went upstairs, checking Lily’s room first. It was empty, her bed neatly made. My old room was untouched, like a museum to my former life.

My parents room door was closed. I hesitated, then slowly turned the knob. My mom was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, an empty med bottle on the nightstand beside her.

For one horrible moment, I thought she was dead, but then she blinked slowly, turning her head to look at me.

Laura, she slurred, her eyes unfocused. What are you doing here?

Where’s Lily? I demanded, fear making my voice sharp.

Gone, my mom mumbled. With your father, he said. He said they needed time alone.

Ice flooded my veins.

Where did they go? When are they coming back?

Don’t know, she said, her eyes drifting closed again. Cabin, maybe. Your father’s so angry these days.

The cabin. My dad’s hunting cabin up in the mountains about two hours away. We’d gone there a few times when I was younger before Lily was born. It was isolated, miles from the nearest neighbor.

I backed out of the room, pulling out my phone to call Aunt Lisa. No signal, of course. My parents’ bedroom was always a dead zone. I ran downstairs to use the landline, but the cord had been ripped out of the wall.

Panic rising, I ran back outside and down the street until my phone showed bars again. I called Aunt Lisa, my words tumbling out in a rush.

“Slow down,” she said. “You’re at your parents house. Is Lily there?”

“No, she’s with dad at the cabin. Mom’s here, but she’s all drugged up on something. I think dad’s going to hurt Lily.

I’m calling the police,” Aunt Lisa said firmly.

“Stay where you are. I’m coming to get you.”

“There’s no time,” I said. “The cabin’s two hours away. I’m going to take mom’s car.”

“Laura, no, you don’t even have a license.”

But I’d already made up my mind. I hung up and ran back to the house, grabbing my mom’s purse from the kitchen counter and fishing out her car keys.

I’d driven a few times with my dad and once with Aunt Lisa. I could do this. The drive was terrifying. I white knuckled it the whole way, staying exactly at the speed limit.

Paranoid about getting pulled over. My phone kept ringing. Aunt Lisa probably, but I couldn’t answer while driving. I just focused on the road, on getting to Lily.

It was starting to get dark by the time I turned onto the dirt road leading to the cabin. I unalived the headlights and parked a little way down the road. Not wanting to announce my arrival.

My dad’s truck was parked outside the cabin, confirming my worst fears. I crept closer, staying in the trees. Lights spilled from the cabin windows and I could hear my dad’s voice, though not what he was saying.

I circled around to the back where I knew there was a small window into the bathroom. Standing on tiptoe, I peered inside. The cabin was just one big room with a bathroom off to the side. I could see my dad pacing back and forth, gesturing angrily.

Lily was sitting on the old couch, her knees pulled up to her chest, making herself as small as possible. She didn’t look hurt, but her face was pale with fear.

Ruined everything.

I heard my dad saying as I strained to listen.

Your sister and her big mouth. CPS is watching us now. Do you know what that means?

Lily shook her head, not speaking.

It means we have to be more careful, he continued. No more mistakes. No more evidence.

My blood ran cold. What was he planning? I needed to get Lily out of there. But how?

I wasn’t strong enough to fight my dad, and I didn’t have a weapon. My phone vibrated in my pocket, making me jump. I backed away from the window to check it.

Multiple missed calls from Aunt Lisa and a text.

Police on their way to cabin. ETA 30 minutes. Stay away.

30 minutes. That felt like forever. What if my dad did something to Lily before then? I couldn’t just wait.

I crept around to the front of the cabin trying to come up with a plan. The front door would be locked. But I remembered there was a spare key hidden under a fake rock by the porch steps. If I could get inside, maybe I could grab Lily and run before my dad caught us.

I was so focused on finding the fake rock that I didn’t hear the cabin door open until it was too late. My dad stepped out onto the porch, lighting a cigarette. I froze, crouched in the shadows just a few feet away. He took a long drag, then called back into the cabin.

I’m going to check the truck. Don’t move.

I pressed myself against the side of the cabin as he walked past, holding my breath. Once he was at the truck rumaging in the bed for something, I made my decision. It was now or never. I darted up the porch steps and through the still open door.

Lily looked up, her eyes widening in shock.

“Laura, what are you?”

“Shh,” I hissed, grabbing her arm.

“We have to go now.”

She hesitated for just a second, then nodded, standing up. We ran for the back door, but just as we reached it, we heard my dad’s footsteps on the porch.

“Hide,” Lily whispered, pushing me toward the bathroom.

I ducked inside just as the front door opened. Through the crack in the door, I watched as my dad came back in, a coil of rope in his hands.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked Lily, his voice dangerously soft.

“Nowhere,” she said quickly. I just needed to stretch my legs.

He looked at her for a long moment, then nodded, seemingly satisfied.

“Sit down. We need to talk about what happens next.”

Lily sat back on the couch, her eyes flicking briefly toward the bathroom where I was hiding. My dad set the rope down on the table and sat across from her.

“You know I love you, right?” he said, his voice suddenly gentle.

“Everything I’ve done has been to make you stronger.”

Lily nodded mechanically, her face blank. I recognize that look. It was the same one she’d worn for years at home, a mask to hide her true feelings.

“But your sister doesn’t understand that,” he continued. “She thinks I’m the bad guy. She’s turned everyone against us.

What are we going to do?” Lily asked, her voice small.

My dad leaned forward, taking her hands in his.

We’re going to start fresh, just you and me, somewhere new, where no one knows us.

My heart raced. He was planning to take Lily away to disappear with her. I couldn’t let that happen.

I looked around the bathroom for something, anything I could use as a weapon. There was nothing but towels and toilet paper.

Then I spotted my dad’s hunting rifle propped in the corner of the main room, just visible through the crack in the door if I could get to it. But no, that was crazy. I’d never fired a Gene in my life. But maybe I didn’t need to.

Maybe just pointing it at him would be enough to scare him into letting us go. I heard sirens in the distance, faint, but getting louder. My dad heard them, too. His head snapping up.

“What the hell?” he muttered, going to the window.

“Did you call someone?” he demanded, turning back to Lily.

“No,” she said, genuine fear in her voice. “I swear.”

He stared at her for a moment, then his eyes drifted to the bathroom door.

“Is someone else here?”

Before Lily could answer, he strode toward the bathroom. I backed up against the shower, looking desperately for a way out, but there was nowhere to go. The door flew open and there was my dad, his face contorted with rage.

“You,” he spat, grabbing my arm and dragging me out. I should have known.

“Dad, stop!” Lily cried, jumping up from the couch.

“Don’t hurt her.”

The sirens were louder now, unmistakable. My dad’s grip on my arm tightened painfully.

“You called the cops,” he said, his voice deadly quiet after everything I’ve done for you.

“You haven’t done anything for me,” I said, finding my courage.

“All you’ve done is hurt Lily and make me watch.”

His face twisted. And for a second, I thought he was going to hit me.

But then Lily was there, pushing between us.

“It’s over, Dad,” she said, her voice stronger than I’d ever heard it. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

The look on his face was terrifying. Pure unfiltered rage. He shoved Lily aside, sending her stumbling into the table and raised his hand to strike me.

I closed my eyes, bracing for the blow, but it never came. There was a loud crash and when I opened my eyes, my dad was on the ground and Lily was standing over him with a broken lamp in her hands, breathing hard.

“Let’s go,” she said, grabbing my hand.

We ran out the front door just as police cars came skidding into the clearing, lights flashing. Aunt Lisa’s car was right behind them, and she leaped out, running toward us with her arms outstretched.

As the police officers rushed past us into the cabin, Aunt Lisa pulled us both into a tight hug.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

We both shook our heads, too overwhelmed to speak. Over Aunt Lisa’s shoulder, I watched as the officers brought my dad out in handcuffs, his face bloody from where Lily had hit him.

He looked straight at us, his eyes burning with hatred. But for the first time in my life, I wasn’t afraid of him. With Lily beside me and Aunt Lisa’s arms around us both, I knew we were finally safe.