Divorced mom renovates old house with her kids to start a new life, what they found inside… shocked everyone

Have you talked to Frank down at the hardware store? His website is straight out of 1998, and my sister owns the new coffee shop on Main. She’s been complaining about needing marketing materials. Rebecca felt a flicker of hope.

Really? Do you think they’d be interested? Worth asking. Small towns work on word of mouth. Once you do one good job, others will follow.

He hesitated. And as for the renovation, we could work out a payment plan, or you could help me with some other projects. Design work for my contracting business, in exchange for labor here.

Before Rebecca could respond, fat raindrops began to fall. Looks like that storm’s moving in early, Daniel observed, glancing at the darkening sky. We should get the tarps secured over the unfinished section.

They spent the next hour battling increasingly heavy rain and wind, working to protect the exposed portions of the roof. By the time they finished, both were soaked to the skin. You should head home, Rebecca told Daniel as they stood dripping in the entryway.

It’s getting bad out there. As if in response, a crack of thunder shook the house, followed by the lights flickering once, twice, then going out completely. Noah appeared from the kitchen, flashlight already in hand.

Powers out, mom. Perfect, Rebecca muttered. Just perfect.

I’ll check the breaker box before I go, Daniel offered, accepting the flashlight from Noah. Where’s your sister, Rebecca asked, peeling off her wet jacket. Noah shrugged, upstairs with her headphones probably.

Rebecca made her way carefully up the stairs in the dim light. Sophie, we’ve lost power. No response came from behind Sophie’s closed door.

Rebecca knocked, then pushed it open to find the room empty. Frowning, she checked the bathroom and the other bedrooms before returning downstairs. She’s not up there, Rebecca told Noah, trying to keep the worry from her voice.

Did she say she was going somewhere? Noah shook his head. I haven’t seen her since lunch. A cold feeling settled in Rebecca’s stomach.

Sophie, she called, moving from room to room. Sophie, where are you? Daniel returned from the basement. Breaker’s fine, it’s a neighborhood outage, but we’ve got another problem.

There’s water coming in from somewhere. The basement’s starting to flood. Rebecca barely registered his words.

Sophie’s missing. She’s not in the house. Maybe she’s in the treehouse, Noah suggested.

In this storm? But even as Rebecca questioned it, she was already moving toward the back door. It would be just like Sophie to retreat to the half-renovated treehouse, heedless of the weather. The three of them ventured into the downpour, calling Sophie’s name.

The treehouse was empty, leaves and rain blowing through its open window frame. Could she have gone to a friend’s house? Daniel asked, having to shout over the wind. She doesn’t have any friends here yet, Rebecca replied, panic rising in her throat.

She’s made that abundantly clear. They retreated inside, all of them now drenched. Rebecca grabbed her phone, finding it down to 20% battery.

I’m calling the police. Just as she was about to dial, the front door burst open and Sophie stumbled in, soaking wet and mud-spattered. Sophie, Rebecca rushed to her.

Where were you? We were worried sick. Sophie’s face was tear-streaked beneath the rain. I just needed to get out, okay? This house was suffocating me.

In the middle of a storm? What were you thinking? Relief was rapidly converting to anger in Rebecca’s voice. I was at the library. I just lost track of time and then it started raining and my phone died.

Sophie pulled away from Rebecca’s reach. Stop treating me like I’m a child. You’re 14, Sophie.

You are a child. And you can’t just disappear without telling anyone where you’re going. Like you told us before you decided to move us to this dump.

Like you told us before you and dad decided to get divorced. Sophie’s voice cracked. You make all these decisions that ruin our lives, then act like I’m the irresponsible one.

Rebecca reeled as if she’d been slapped. The accusation stung all the more because part of her feared it was true. Sophie, that’s not fair to your mom.

Daniel interjected gently. Stay out of it, Sophie snapped. You’re not part of this family.

Sophie Taylor, Rebecca admonished. Apologize right now. Why should I? It’s the truth.

He’s just some guy you hired who probably feels sorry for us. Sophie stormed past them toward the stairs. I hate this house.

I hate this town. And I hate what our family has become. Her bedroom door slammed, the sound reverberating through the half demolished house.

An uncomfortable silence fell, broken only by the steady drip of water from multiple leaks that had sprung up during the storm. I’m sorry about that, Rebecca finally said to Daniel, mortification heating her cheeks. Don’t be, he replied.

Teenagers plus divorce plus renovation. That’s a lot for anyone to handle. Noah stood awkwardly nearby, eyes wide and worried….