Page 5 of Chubs

“What secret would you keep from me?” Trigger asks with a confused look on his face.

“No secret! He’s lying! Chubs doesn’t know nothing about anything!” Tessie shouts nervously, with guilt written all over her.

Trigger turns to face her fully, myself forgotten for the moment, and I take that opportunity to slide along the wall toward the big bay door. As I listen to Trigger question Tessie, I feel a moment of pity for her. I too love that girl to death, and I just threw her under the Trigger bus to save myself. Not my proudest moment, but unfortunately, it was necessary. I only need a few more days before putting my plan in motion, and I can’t have it derailed. Hopefully, I can make it up to Tessie someday. If I survive my plan, I’m going to have a lot of apologies to make at some point. Realistically, I know not everyone will forgive me, but life is full of hard choices. I’ll choose every damn time to have the people I love hate me forever if it keeps them breathing. It’ll be hard losing them from my life. Crushing, actually, but I don’t see another way.

I make it to my bike, climb on and start it up. As I’m riding past the open bay doors, I punch the throttle and swallow down my guilt. Again.

Chapter 2

Lucy

Pippa and I work on the grant applications for a few hours before she gets called away. While she left to help with an intake, I continued filling out the applications. Any grant money would help, but a few of the ones we applied for today would provide a steady influx of funds for several years. They’re so important that I take the time to double, then triple-check them for errors. When they’re perfect, I close my laptop and stretch the kinks out of my back and neck.

Walking into the kitchen for a drink, I see a couple of the residents making sandwiches. Scooting around them, I open the fridge, grab a Coke before heading back out the door. As I exit the kitchen, I hear a loud bang, a few curse words, a mumbled, “dang it, Lucy,” but I don’t bother looking back. Taking my drink, I walk out the back door and take a seat next to the patio table. One sip of my Coke, and my phone rings.

“Hey, Daddy. What’s up?” I say, answering my phone with a smile.

I love my dad, and I’m a proud daddy’s girl. I make no excuses for that.

“Hello, Lucy. Just calling to make sure you’re ready for our trip. Is there anything you need for it yet?”

“I’m going through my clothes tonight, but if I need anything, it won’t be much. I’ll have time tomorrow to get whatever else I might need,” I answer, already knowing what he’s going to say next.

“Use my credit card and get anything you think you’d like. Lisa did her shopping a few days ago with your mom,” Dad says.

“Dad, I don’t need to use your card, you know. I do have money of my own,” I reply, stating the words he’s heard a thousand times.

“I know that, honey, but you’re going to need clothes for a few formal events, and those are because of me,” Dad responds with a sigh.

He knows how much I hate the formal events but love him enough to support him regardless. He hates me spending my own money on clothes for those things and always tries to insist on paying.

“Will you feel less guilty if I spend your money then?” I ask with a small laugh.

“Yes, definitely, and go wild if you want to,” the Governor of Colorado answers with a relieved laugh.

“Okay, Dad. I’ll do my best to spend your money tomorrow and make you proud.”

“You always make me proud, Lucy. Love you,” Dad says in a sincere voice.

“Love you too, Dad,” I answer before disconnecting our call.

Looks like I’m going formal clothes shopping tomorrow, even though I’d rather do nearly anything else. Asking Tammy, Trigger’s woman, to go with me will ensure that I end up dressed in a stylish, elegant manner with minimal fuss. Taking another sip of my Coke, I stand and go searching for Tammy to ask for her help.

“Did you get everything you needed?” Chubs asks while licking his fingers clean of brownie crumbs.

“Everything and a few extras. Taking Tammy with me was brilliant. Even my dad was impressed with how much damage she did to his credit card in a few short hours. Mom and Lisa asked if she would go with them next time,” I answer with a laugh.

“Tammy’s good people. Perfect for Trigger too, but I wonder if she knows he literally buries money and gold coins everywhere,” Chubs says absently.

“He still does that? I thought that was just something he did for a while after he started getting regular paychecks.”

“Still does it. Said he grew up with nothing, often going hungry, and promised himself he’d never be broke again. He’s a man of his word because he has stashed emergency cash everywhere,” Chubs answers with a wide grin.

Being an accountant, my mind flashes to all the money he’s not making by hiding instead of investing.

“And before you ask, yes, Bailey is aware and got him to agree to invest more and hide less. She even got him to write out a description of all the various places he’s hidden money and add it to his will. Everyone has their own quirks, and money is Trigger’s,” Chubs says with a snort.

This is very true, so I move on to a different subject.

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