Page 25 of Rescuing Carolyn

“Good.” He stole a kiss just before Mom returned with a bag of toys. As soon as he saw them, Austin wanted down to play. “I’ll get the box from your car.” Zach touched my arm, giving it a gentle squeeze before going out.

“It’s not my business, but…” Mom commented as soon as Zach was out the door.

“Mom, give us some time.” I stopped her with a good-humored warning. Zach and I were moving quickly to a reconciliation, but we’d spent nearly two years apart, and I wasn’t ready to discuss our future with my mother when Zach and I hadn’t really talked about it yet.

“Okay. I still think he’s a keeper, though.” The front door opened, and Mom clamped her lips shut until Zach came back in the room.

“Where would you like them?” he asked.

“Oh, not another old batch of papers. I should have shredded that stuff years ago.” Mom groaned as Zach placed the box on the coffee table in front of us before plopping down on the floor to play with Austin.

“Maybe,” I agreed, “but they’ve been an interesting read. I came across this one last night.” I pulled the paper from the top of the box and held it out to my mother. I had reread it that morning to make sure my understanding of it after a quick perusal the evening before had been accurate. “You never told me that you owned a jewelry store before All That Sparkles.”

When my mother’s face fell, I wished I’d broached the subject differently. I’d almost called my sister earlier to see what she knew but decided our mother might have kept it a secret for a reason. Now I was sure of it. What could be so bad about having had a different store?

“I guess I should have told you about that years ago. You’ve been an adult for a long time, after all. It’s just so…” My mother shuddered, obviously upset by it.

“You don’t have to explain.” I tried to take the paper back and stuff it in the box.

“No, I do,” Mom said firmly, catching my hand. She took the paper, smoothing it against her knee. “You should know.”

“Let’s go outside, buddy.” Zach picked Austin up. “It’s a beautiful day out there.”

“Thanks,” I mouthed to him before he headed out the French doors onto the back patio.

“He’s a good man,” my mother said once they were out of earshot.

“I know,” I readily agreed. I was grateful to have him back in my life. I pulled my attention back to the paper my mother still held. “Mom, you don’t have to tell me about it if it’s none of my business.”

My mother sighed. “You deserve an explanation, but it’s not an easy thing to talk about. If it were simply a bad business decision that I made, I wouldn’t mind, but it’s wrapped up in sordid details I’ve tried to hide from you and Charlotte.”

I couldn’t imagine my mother being involved in anything unsavory, so I waited for her to continue.

“When you were very young, I started a jewelry business with a friend of mine. I thought she was my best friend. Her name was Marta Huntly. We’d met when we both worked for Tiffin’s department store. I was in jewelry, of course, and Marta sold perfumes and cosmetics. Anyway, we decided to go out into business together. I put up most of the capital to buy merchandise and rent a storefront. Overall, it went pretty well for the two years we were in business, but only if I was constantly in the store. Marta wasn’t the type to do her fair share of the work, as I quickly learned.”

“Were you forced to close?” I asked. Small businesses failed frequently, especially new ones.

“We could have made it, but…” She seemed to take a moment to gather herself. “You aren’t going to like this part of the story.”

“Tell me,” I said, my suspicions running wild.

“I was headed out of town for a trade show,” she said slowly, “when my flight was canceled at the last minute. I returned home, planning to fly out the next morning. You and Charlotte were with my mother, thank goodness. When I arrived, Marta’s car was in the driveway. I thought that was odd, because she was supposed to be managing the store, but I let myself into the house and went upstairs…”

A sick feeling churned through my stomach. I remembered that trip to Grandma’s house that got extended for several days. When it was over, my parents sat me down and told me that they were filing for divorce. “You found Marta with Dad.” I filled in the blank so my mother wouldn’t have to.

“I did. In our bed.” Mom paused. “I was angry with both of them, and then I felt hurt and foolish for not having realized. Of course, they claimed they were in love. They also told me that their affair had been going on for more than a year.”

“Do you think they really loved each other?” Sadly, I didn’t know my father well enough to guess.

“No,” she said with a rueful smile. “They lasted only a few months together after the divorce. Your father, I’m sorry to say it, loved himself above all others and always had a wandering eye. I don’t think Marta was the only woman he was with during our marriage.”

“God, that’s awful,” I said. I couldn’t imagine not being able to trust the man in my life. I glimpsed Zach and Austin out the window. They were feet apart, rolling a red ball back and forth. Zach and I would always have our differences, but no matter what, I knew I could trust him.

“He was not cut out for family life,” Mom said. “I knew he was bored and restless, but I was so busy running the business and raising you girls.”

“You don’t blame yourself, I hope.” I was well aware of my father’s shortcomings. As a kid, I’d refused to see him for what he was, always hoping he’d come back and be the father I’d dreamed of. That bubble burst long ago.

“Not anymore. Needless to say,” she continued, “Marta and I dissolved the business and sold off all the assets. Out of that and the divorce settlement, I was able to pull together the money to open All That Sparkles.”

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