The Shed: A Family's Dark Secret

phone call from my mother, Wendy.

e, honey,

e usual sharp edge of judgment was gone, replaced by

o reply. "Your brother, Caleb, he's getting married. We w

Ethan and I had just announced our engagement. My family' s reaction wasn' t joy, it was

ntire life savings. A "blessing"

sionary" trips that was just a cover for his lazy, entitled lifestyle. To b

bag, left my childhood home in the Appalachian hills, and never looked back. I

. A wedding. A

Mom," I said,

elle. For me.

ad changed them. Maybe Caleb getting married had finally made him grow up. Ethan,

000 from my own savings. On top of that, I brought the $20,000 Ethan's parents had set aside for me when w

rearview mirror. With every mile, a familiar sense of dread grew in my