Chapter 3: The Departure from Suburbia
Within forty-five minutes, the finished basement had been reduced to a hollow, echoing shell of bare concrete and stripped drywall.
Lucas loaded five packed cardboard boxes, two rolling toolchests, his drafting table components, and his clothing trunks into the bed of his reliable 2018 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck parked in the driveway.
Thomas stood at the edge of the garage, his face mottled with a mixture of wounded patriarchal pride and sudden panic as he watched his son strap down the cargo with heavy ratchet straps.
""You're making a massive mistake, Lucas,"" Thomas said, his voice dropping into a harsh, warning register. ""You walk out of this house over a minor financial disagreement, and you don't come back when the rent in the city eats up your salary. You think landlords in Columbus will care about your excuses?""
Lucas pulled the nylon ratchet strap until it sang with tension. He turned around, wiping grease from his hands with a blue shop rag.
""A commercial landlord gives you a signed contract, Dad,"" Lucas replied, his voice level and steady. ""They don't smile at you over Sunday roast and then calculate how much more blood they can squeeze out of your veins to fund their favorite child's delusions.""
Janice stood in the doorway, her eyes welling with defensive tears. ""After everything we sacrificed for you...""
""You sacrificed my college fund so Chloe could attend private equestrian school in Kentucky, Mom,"" Lucas said without a trace of anger, simply stating historical facts. ""I worked thirty hours a week at the lumberyard to pay my tuition at Ohio State. I lived down here because you told me you needed help with the property taxes after Dad’s early retirement. The property taxes were paid six months ago. You just wanted a live-in tenant who wouldn't complain when you raised the rate.""
Lucas climbed into the cab of his truck, started the engine, and put it in reverse.
May you like
He did not look back in the rearview mirror as the truck rolled down the tree-lined suburban street, leaving behind the neat lawns, two-car garages, and hollow promises of Dublin.
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