Dawn loses everything when her father dies, including her house, family, and sister who has never actually cared about her. She believes everything is finished after being sent out with only her things and an old watch. But her father predicted everything. And concealed within his final presence is a secret that will alter everything… including who truly wins in the end.

I was always aware that my sister, Charlotte, did not care about me. But I never expected Mom to throw me out onto the street two weeks after our father’s burial.

For as long as I could remember, it was just the three of us: Dad, Charlotte, and me.

Essentially, it’s just Dad and me.

Charlotte, at 35 years old, has never fully been a member of this family. She lived in my father’s house, but it was never her home. She was constantly out. Sometimes it was parties, outings with friends, or just pursuing the next “big thing,” as she often said.

“I’m going to be great, Dawn,” she declared. “My purpose is to live a life of significance.” I am not designed for a small existence where no one knows who I am. “You might get it one day.”

She used our house as a crash pad, only showing up when she needed something, especially when she was short on cash.

I, on the other hand, was 17 and had never known life outside of these confines. I had become Dad’s shadow, following him about the house, assisting him with repairs, and preparing supper for us when he returned home from work.

He would advise Dawn to opt for home-cooked meals. “It doesn’t matter how tired you are; you should always make something for yourself.”

“Do the noodles from the packet count?” I asked.

All I recalled about the talk was how my father stared at me and chuckled.

Growing up, I always worried that Charlotte disliked me. She was already 18 when I was born. She was already a legal adult, with an entire life ahead of her. Meanwhile, I was the only baby born after.

My mother did not bother staying, to my surprise. But what about my dad? He adored me.

“Dawn, you were the dawn of a new beginning, my love,” he’d tell her. “You were the biggest surprise of my life, and I welcomed you with everything I had.”

Perhaps it was part of it. Maybe that’s why Charlotte acted like she did.

Charlotte had already begun to distance herself by the time I was old enough to truly know her. She didn’t really regard me as a sister. She saw me more as an inconvenience in her life. There was a child following me around in places where I wasn’t welcomed.

She never told me a bedtime story or played with me. When Dad took us out for ice cream, Mom hardly looked up from her phone.

But I still believed she cared.

She was certain that she would be present when it counted.

But I was totally incorrect.

And then Dad died. And my entire life came apart.

Two weeks after the funeral, we were sitting at the lawyer’s office. Despite her dress, Charlotte sat there with barely a trace of sadness. Instead, she seemed bored. If anything, she appeared to think it was a waste of time. She inspected her nails while we awaited the reading of Dad’s will.

And me?

I sat stiffly alongside her, fists clasped in my lap. I had no idea how to feel or what to think, other than that I was drowning in sadness.

The attorney cleared his throat.

“Sorry about that, ladies,” he said. “I had to take the call. Now, let us go back to business.”

Charlotte looked up, noticing his presence.

“The house goes to Charlotte,” he added.

I felt my gut twisting. I was not going to fight it, but why?

Why would my father do this to me?

“And to you,” the lawyer turned to face me, “your father left you this.”

He gave me a tiny package. I knew exactly what was inside before I opened it.

It was Dad’s wristwatch.

It was ancient, scratched, and barely functional. But for as long as I could remember, it had been lying on my father’s wrist.

I swallowed the knot in my throat.

Charlotte let out a snort.

“Seriously? “His watch?” she asked, laughing. “God, even when dead, Dad’s still playing favorites.”

I ignored her. My fingertips stroked across the watch’s old leather band. It smelt like him. I wasn’t concerned about the house. I didn’t care about my belongings. I simply wanted my father back.

How was I going to attend college without him?

We stayed in the same house for the next three days. We scarcely talked. I went to school. I went to work at a coffee shop after school. I arrived home.

I enjoyed the routine. I adhered to it as if my survival relied on it.

What would I do without it? I’d drown in sadness.

Then, one evening, I returned home from my job at the coffee shop to find all of my belongings packed by the front door, including my guitar.

Charlotte stood in the corridor, arms folded. She wore a smug smirk on her face.

“This is it!” she said joyously. “Our paths diverged here, Dawn. “I need you to leave.”

“What?” I blinked slowly, as if I were dreaming and attempting to wake up.

“You heard me, little sister,” she replied, indicating toward my baggage. “This house is mine.” You heard it firsthand from the lawyer. And I don’t feel like babysitting you anymore.”

I could hardly breathe. It seemed like every organ in my body was gradually shutting down.

“Charlotte,” I answered. “I have nowhere else to go.”

“And that’s not my problem!” she exclaimed gleefully. “You have to figure it out for yourself.”

I could feel my eyes burning, but I refused to cry in front of her.

“Are you really doing this?” I asked. I muttered, trying to fight back tears.

She grinned.

“You should have been nicer to me growing up, sis,” she grumbled. “Maybe then, I’d feel bad.”

With shaky hands, I grabbed my phone and dialed our lawyer’s number. When he responded, I blurted out everything.

“Dawn!” he said, sounding astonished. “How can I help?”

“Charlotte expelled me from the house!” I exclaimed.” “What do I do?”

There was a pause. And then he laughed.

It was a true, sincere laugh.

“I can’t believe this!” he said. “Everything is occurring just as your father expected. Come into my office tomorrow. “I have something for you.”

What could he possibly have for me?

“I’ll book you a motel for the night,” he told me. “Or a bed-and-breakfast. Just give me five minutes, and I will email you a car and the address.”

“Thank you,” I said.

I sat on the porch, waiting for his text.

When the car came, I hopped in and watched as the driver drove me to a lovely small bed and breakfast.

“Here you go, ma’am,” he replied, pulling my baggage out.

How did I get here? How did I get to this point? How had everything gone apart so fast?

I was just unpacking my pajamas when the owner arrived at the door.

“Dawn?” she inquired. “Matthew requested me to bring you dinner. I’ve got mac & cheese and a salad.

I couldn’t believe how lucky I’d been with the lawyer. I didn’t know him very well, but he was taking good care of me.

I hardly slept that night.

The next morning, I dragged myself to Matthew’s office, fatigued and numb. He gave me a nice grin.

“Sit down, kid,” he instructed. “You’re going to want to be sitting for this.”

I slipped into the chair.

“What’s going on?”

He slid the packet across the desk.

“Your father was a smart man, Dawn,” he told you. “He knew Charlotte would most likely throw you out the moment she got control of the house.”

“He knew?” I swallowed.

“That’s why he made me draw this up,” he muttered.

Matthew opened the folder to uncover a mound of documents.

Seven years ago, your father amassed a significant amount of money. It was about $2 million. It was from a distant aunt with no children, but your father looked after her when she needed it.”

“What?” I gave a gasp.

Indeed, he didn’t ultimately inform any of you. But I’m certain he had his reasons. Now here’s the catch, Dawn. “Your father divided the money between you and Charlotte.”

“She gets a share too?” I spoke softly, my heart sinking.

“Yes, Dawn.” But there is a condition. Charlotte must share the house with you equally.”

I sat up straighter. Suddenly, there appeared to be an escape route from this disaster.

“If your sister refuses, she gets absolutely nothing.”

He laughed, as if he could read my astonishment on my face.

“There’s more,” he added. “Your father left you this.”

He pushed a note over the table for me. My hands trembled when I opened it.

It was my father’s writing.

Dawn, my dear.

I know Charlotte, dear. I know what she will do. But you are smarter than her. You’ve always been. The money is in a safe deposit box. Use it carefully, my girl.

I adore you more than anything.

—Dad

I froze when I looked at the bank account data.

“I don’t know the code to the safe deposit box,” I said quietly.

The attorney grinned.

“The watch,” he said simply.

I removed Dad’s watch off my wrist and flipped it over. On the back, there were minor scrapes. Four numbers are dim yet noticeable.

A code!

Matthew grinned.

“Your dad was a genius, Dawn.”

I couldn’t help it. For the first time since his death, I laughed heartily.

Charlotte had the house, but she also carried all of the debt. And she had just cast out the one person who might have kept her from losing everything.

I was still at the bed and breakfast a few days later when Charlotte called. I left it ringing as I went to fetch myself a drink of water.

Then I grabbed it.

“Hello?” I said gently.

“You knew, didn’t you?” she demanded.

“Knew what?” I inquired.

“The house,” she said abruptly. “The lawyer has just contacted me. There’s debt. There’s a significant amount of debt. These items amount to hundreds of dollars. Dawn, if you fail to pay off these items, we will seize the house. And you…” she exhaled a trembling breath. “You have the money, don’t you?”

I reclined back in an armchair and twirled my father’s watch around my wrist.

“I could potentially have the money,” I said.”But we don’t have a very nice past, do we?” You did kick me out.”

She was silent.

“You have to help me!” she said eventually.

I grinned.

“I would have helped you, Charlotte,” I said. “If you’d been nicer to me growing up, sis. Maybe I’d feel awful.”

Then I hung up.

I was intending to stay in the bed and breakfast for a bit longer. Matthew assisted me in looking for a furnished flat.

“Something small will be perfect,” he told me. “Dawn, you have a few months before going to college. You don’t need to commit to a large home. Apartments are the ideal choice. And you’ll be eighteen soon, so you can do whatever you want. For the time being, you should concentrate on your studies.

“Thank you for helping me,” I said. Without your assistance, I would have been completely lost.

“Dawn, your father told me everything about you, even how tough your sister made your life. This is especially true now that your mother has left the household. I told your father that I would help you get back on your feet.

A few weeks later, I was in my small studio apartment in an artistic neighborhood of town. It was close to my school and a coffee shop, which I enjoyed.

I’m not sure what happened to Charlotte, but when I passed by our house one evening, I noticed a SOLD sign in the front. I probably should have felt awful, but I did not. It was not my home without my father.

At the very least, he was still keeping an eye on me, albeit through Matthew.

What would you have done?