You Thought My Turn Could Always Come Later Chapter 06
Megan faltered, unable to answer.
Just then, his phone rang.
It was Ms. Ward.
“Mr. Burke, your daughter has arrived safely in Boston.”
Ronan’s legs nearly gave out. He grabbed the edge of the table to keep himself upright.
“What is she doing in Boston?”
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
“You didn’t know?”
“Sabine won first place in the state math competition. Eight thousand dollars in prize money. Northwood Academy offered her early admission.”
“Today was her awards ceremony. The day she signed her enrollment papers.”
“Mr. Burke, the school emailed you three times.”
“Sabine also told us you promised you’d be there.”
Ronan opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Ms. Ward continued, “Sabine has already moved into her dorm.”
“But she’s still a minor. The transfer paperwork requires a guardian’s signature. Please come to the school by tomorrow afternoon.”
After the call ended, the living room was deathly quiet.
Chloe muttered under her breath, “She just went off to school. It’s not like she’s missing.”
Ronan whipped around.
“Shut up!”
The shout made Chloe flinch.
Tears sprang to her eyes.
“You’re yelling at me?”
“My dad died saving you! You promised you would take care of me!”
Before, that line had always worked.
But this time, all Ronan could see was the broken inhaler.
All he could picture was Sabine, standing alone on a stage with a medal around her neck.
His favoritism had almost cost his own daughter everything.
“I promised I’d take care of you,” he said, his voice raw.
“I never promised I’d let you bully her.”
Chloe burst into tears and threw herself into Megan’s arms.
Ronan didn’t even look at them.
He grabbed his car keys and drove toward Boston through the night.
At two in the morning, he stood outside the locked gates of Northwood Academy, dialing Sabine’s number over and over.
Every call went to voicemail.
He finally flagged down the night security guard, his voice rough with exhaustion.
“Could you please get Sabine Burke for me?”
“I’m her father.”
The guard checked the visitor log.
“The student left specific instructions.”
“She’s not seeing any parents tonight.”
Ronan stood there in the cold wind, his body stiff.
It was only then that he understood.
Sabine wasn’t throwing a tantrum.
She had no intention of ever giving him another chance to explain.