Page 55 of The Leaving Road

“She’d taken out credit cards in the bar’s name, then proceeded to rack up thousands and thousands of dollars in debt. I’d only found out because my loan to open Yulianas was declined due to the outstanding debt to income stacked up against the bar, whichdidn’tmake any sense. My dad had paid off our loans years ago, and we were very much in the green, which was how we could afford to pay our employees’ health care and PTO, and a good benefits package, even though stuff like that isn’t normally offered at restaurants and bars.”

I couldn’t hide my shocked gasp.She stole from him.From hisfamily?

“What?”

“Yup. All for shoes and purses and not having to work. She was spending her time wining and dining with friends and footing the bill. She only wore designer clothes and handbags. She had noideahow much money she was spending, or what she was racking up in interest. She’d been paying the card’s minimum payment required, yet continually got other cards or increased her limits. By the time the truth came out, we were talking numbers that would take me years to pay off.”

“How could she do that? Didn’t she need a signature or something?”

His head dipped. “Yeah, it had gotten so bad the last year or so we were together that I usually did my best to avoid her. When I did see her, it was easier to give her what she wanted instead of causing an argument. She asked me to sign something she told me was to do with the apartment we shared—something about adding some new restrictions to the lease. I…I didn’t even give it a second glance; I just signed.”

“And your parents?”

“They werefurious.Mom wanted to take out an ad in the paper, letting the town know what she’d done. Dad’s reaction was the worst; he wasn’t mad, just…sad.Everything he worked for was at risk of being taken away. All it would take is one bad tourist season and we wouldn’t be able to pay our employees’ health benefits anymore. He wanted to go to the police.

“Why didn’t you?”

“When I confronted her, she called daddy dearest, and if we agreed to keep it between us, he would pay her debts. Not only would it hurt his chances for re-election, but he’d never be able to marry Cassie off to a suitable husband, and he’d be stuck supporting her, and once again, risk his career. The condition was we tell no one who didn’t already know.”

I could tell he was ashamed that they had taken Cassie’s family’s money, but I thought putting the needs of their employees before their own took courage.

“I’m so sorry that happened to you and your family, Sloan.”

I wanted to tell him I couldn’t imagine what that kind of betrayal felt like, but I did. I knew what it was like to have someone you trusted betray you.

“I knew what she was capable of, and when it came down to it, I wasn’t all that shocked. The look on my parents’ faces…that’s what hurt the most. I vowed I’d never be the one who brought it to them again…and well, I’ve already failed that.”

I cocked my head at him, not understanding.

“They had that same disappointed look when I told them about what happened at our graduation party… Truthfully, it was even worse.”

Now he didn’t even bother trying to eat any more of his pizza; he just threw his plate away.

The devastated look on his face was heartbreaking. I had to curl my nails into my palms to prevent from offering him a hug. “And now?”

“And now nothing. Cassie kicked and screamed, begging for forgiveness. She tried to justify her actions, claiming she was trying to build us the best life possible, cried that she didn’t realize how much money she was taking. When I didn’t fall for it, she turned nasty, telling me she knew I didn’t love her and that she was just a placeholder. She started throwing the glassware at me, so I left and never looked back.”

“So, the other night at the bar?”

“The other night at the bar was her knowing I wouldn’t…couldn’tcall her out in front of all our mutual friends. We have no relationship whatsoever. She tries to call and text, but I block the numbers. Occasionally, there will be a run-in at the store, but she keeps the dramatics to a minimum in public, thankfully.”

I shook my head in mild disbelief. “This just all seems so…Jerry Springer.”

“Tell me about it. It’s a nightmare I’d like to wake up from.”

Our eyes met and we both couldn’t hold back our smiles at one another.

“I…I need some time to process this, okay?” I whispered.

“Take all the time you need.”

Chapter 35

Magnolia

The tension was a little thick, and Sloan was trying to give me time to process all that he told me, but we were still stuck here together tonight. I knew neither of us would be willing to leave the animals overnight, and Sloan would not be okay with leaving Peaches, and I wasn’t about to ask him to. I went to round on the patients in the clinic while Sloan finished cleaning up dinner, which meant throwing out my paper plate and storing the pizza in the fridge.

Being able to throw myself into my job helped me sort my thoughts. I sighed.

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