I refilled everyone’s wine glass and poured fruit juice for Sheila.
“To family,” Austin said, lifting his glass.
I raised mine as well.
“To the truth,” I replied.
Silence instantly settled over the room.
“You’re being dramatic,” Sheila laughed uneasily.
I placed my glass back onto the table.
“Do you remember Marcus Green?” I asked.
My mother froze in place. Austin let his fork slip from his hand. Sheila’s smile disappeared.
“The man who lost his life on the main road,” I continued. “The man I spent two years in prison protecting.”
“Summer,” my father warned. “Don’t spoil this dinner.”
“This dinner was already ruined the moment you entered this apartment pretending nothing happened,” I replied.
Abigail burst into tears.
“Sweetheart, please…”
“Don’t call me sweetheart,” I said. “Not after throwing forty dollars at me. Not after clearing out my room and transferring the house into someone else’s name just to push me away.”
Austin slammed his palm against the table.
“That’s enough! You agreed to take the blame for me!” he shouted.
“Because you manipulated me,” I answered.
Then I turned toward Sheila.
“And you hid the dashcam memory card inside the flowerpot in the yard,” I added.
Every trace of color drained from her face.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she whispered.
“They already know,” I said quietly. “The police have everything.”
At that exact moment, the doorbell rang. My mother’s face turned pale with fear.
“Are you expecting someone?” she asked.
I rose from my chair and walked toward the entrance.
“Yes,” I answered. “The final course has arrived.”
I pulled the door open. Detective Daugherty stepped inside with four police officers. Their handcuffs reflected the light from the dining room chandelier.
“Austin Morales and Sheila Morales, you are under arrest in connection with the death of Marcus Green,” Detective Daugherty announced. “Lawrence Morales and Abigail Morales, you are under arrest for conspiracy to conceal evidence and obstruction of justice.”
Sheila immediately began screaming.
“You can’t arrest me! I’m pregnant!”
I met her gaze without emotion.
“I was innocent, and you still let me go to prison,” I said.
Austin lunged toward me, but an officer restrained him before he could get close.
“Summer, I’m your brother!” he shouted.
“No,” I replied. “You’re the man who stole two years of my life.”
My mother collapsed onto her knees, sobbing.
“How could you do this to your own family?”
I looked at her for the final time.
