Page 133 of Reckless Harmony

“Okay, well, I can speak with him and have him make any payments that are due asap,” Rayna said.

“Unfortunately, the rescue’s outstanding debt is significant, and with no payments to your credit cards or line of credit being made for the last three months, we have no choice but to send the debts to collections.”

“Whoa, wait…just… what do you mean no payments for three months, and credit cards and line of credit? Little Whiskers only has one credit card and no line of credit,” Rayna said as unease drifted into her belly.

There was a moment of silence that only worsened Rayna’s anxiety before Carla said, “Ms. Abrams, in the last year, Little Whiskers has opened two credit cards and a line of credit.”

“No, that’s not possible,” she said. “I didn’t authorize that.”

There was some keyboard clicking before Carla said, “Mr. Roberts opened two more credit card accounts and a line of credit. According to our records, he has the signing authority on the account to do so.”

“How much does the rescue owe?” Rayna said through lips that felt like they’d been shot up with Novocaine.

“The total debt incurred by the rescue is one hundred and fifty-three thousand dollars and seventy-two cents,” Carla said.

“Oh my God.” Rayna immediately felt like she’d been hit by a sledgehammer. “I… are you sure? There has to be some mistake.”

“What’s wrong?” Emma mouthed.

Rayna swallowed the bile rising in her throat as Carla said, “Ms. Abrams, I think it might be best if you come into the bank. Can you meet with me today?”

“I can be there in fifteen minutes,” Rayna said.

“Perfect. See you soon.”

Rayna ended the call and stared at Emma, her body beginning to shake. This couldn’t be happening. It had to be a mistake.

“Rayna, honey, what’s wrong?” Emma asked.

Her fingers trembling, Rayna called Mack. The nausea intensified in her stomach when she heard the robotic, ‘The number you are calling is no longer in service.’

“Rayna, talk to me,” Emma said.

“Em… it’s bad,” Rayna said. “It’s really fucking bad.”

“The bank said Mack can’t be charged with fraud? Seriously?” Lucas sank into the kitchen chair, absentmindedly petting Bea when she sat on his feet. Lucas had come over as soon as he’d finished work, bringing all three of them dinner from Nan’s Diner, but Rayna wasn’t able to eat a single bite.

“No, because….” Emma glanced at Rayna, who stood by the sink, staring out the window.

She tried to smile at Emma, but it was hard to smile when her entire world had come crashing down on her.

“Because I’m a fucking idiot,” she told Lucas before sitting in the chair beside him.

“No, you’re not,” Emma said immediately.

“I gave Mack total control over the finances of the rescue, and I never bothered to check what he was doing with said finances,” Rayna said. “I basically gave him carte blanche, and now the rescue is fucked.”

“You had a lot on your plate, honey,” Emma said.

Rayna barked harsh laughter. “It’s no excuse, Em.”

“There has to be something we can do,” Lucas said.

“The bank has agreed to hold off on sending the rescue to collections if I can pay off at least fifty percent of the debt owed in the next fourteen days,” Rayna said.

“Okay, that’s a start,” Lucas said. “People in this town love you, Rayna. We’ll throw a big fundraiser to raise the cash needed.”

“People aren’t going to donate because of my stupidity,” Rayna said.

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