Page 55 of The Secrets We Treasure

“Good idea.” Laci placed the lid on the carton before getting up and putting it in the freezer.

As soon as she sat back down, Treasure picked up where she’d left off. This was the hardest part to tell. “Josette knew some things about my mom.” Her voice trembled as she soldiered on. “My mom and Oliver Chasing had an affair.”

Laci went bug-eyed. “Are you serious? Your mom would be the last person I would suspect of having an affair.” Her voice went high. “And with Oliver Chasing?”

A deep sadness settled like concrete into Treasure’s stomach. “I know. I was shocked when I found out.”

“I can imagine. Talk about a double whammy. Francie and Josette ambush you and then tell you about the affair.” She shook her head. “Unbelievable.”

Treasure waved a hand. “Actually, I already knew about my mom’s affair.”

“How?”

“Greer and I saw her and Oliver together.”

Laci’s jaw fell. “Greer knew and didn’t tell me?”

“Well, yeah. I’m sure he was just trying to protect me.”

She put a hand over her chest. “But it’s me we’re talking about.” Her voice faltered. “I can’t believe neither of you told me.”

Frustration bristled Treasure’s insides. “Would you stop playing the victim?”

Laci rocked back. “I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” Treasure squared her jaw. “And it’s getting old. We’re all adults here. No one is leaving you out.”

“Well, it certainly felt that way yesterday,” Laci pouted.

Treasure rolled her eyes. “Do you want to hear the rest of the story or not?”

“I do. Sorry I’m so sensitive. I just can’t stand the thought of losing my two best friends.” Her voice sounded small and wounded.

“Just because Greer and I are back together doesn’t mean that you’re losing us.” Good grief! What was it going to take to get through to Laci?

“Okay,” she acquiesced. “I get it. Continue.”

“Josette handed me a duffle bag and instructed me to open it. I did and was shocked to find it filled with money. One hundred thousand dollars, to be exact.”

“That’s insane,” Laci murmured. “They were buying you off.”

Anger boiled in Treasure’s chest. “Yep. That was the plan. I was appalled and told them I couldn’t be bought.” Her voice quivered as moisture gathered in her eyes. “I told them that there was nothing they could do to keep me away from Greer.” She watched Laci carefully to get her reaction, but her expression was unreadable. She took in a breath, the all-too-familiar nails of pain hammering into her heart. “Josette gave me an ultimatum—take the money and leave the island, or she would go public with the affair and get my mother fired.”

Sympathy percolated in Laci’s eyes. “You took the money.”

“Yes. I took it and fled.” A hard smile spread over her lips. “Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. I ran into Madeline Chasing as I was leaving the hotel. Seeing my distress, she took me to her office. I told her that Greer and I were breaking up and that I was leaving.” Her voice caught, tears burning her eyes. “Madeline gave me five-thousand dollars to help me get a new start.”

Confusion washed over Laci’s face. “I don’t understand. You already had one-hundred-thousand dollars. Why would you take five more?”

“I never touched a penny of the money in that duffle bag,” she seethed. “Madeline didn’t realize it at the time, but she saved me in so many ways. I went to live with my aunt Katie in Philadelphia.”

“The one who passed away from cancer a few years ago.”

Treasure nodded. “Madeline’s money helped me retain my self-respect. I used it to help buy groceries and pay for utilities. I worked hard and eventually became a flight attendant.” She offered a practical smile. “The rest is history.”

Laci creased her brows. “Where’s the money?”

“That’s the best part. It never left the island. I buried it.” The shock on Laci’s face caused Treasure to giggle.

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