Page 75 of To Catch a Thief

“Mom.” Dad couldn’t have done that to his mother. To their family. He clutched the edge of the step. “I don’t believe it.”

“There were letters. In the things they shipped home.” Now the tears were a river racing down her face. “I didn’t want to believe it, either. But he was away for so long.”

“How could he?” His voice cracked.

“Your father was human.” Sobs racked her body. “For a while, I hated him. But I can’t deny what your father gave me. Love—and my three sons. I’ve forgiven him. I know that he loved me. Loved us. But he was weak. Human. He was at war. Life-and-death situations. I forgave him.”

“But…”

“Don’t let the false image of your father destroy what’s between you and Carolina. Honor is a cold bedfellow.”

His father was an adulterer. He couldn’t wrestle with the idea. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

“I’ve come to terms with it.” She wiped at the tears that had slowed. “We had plenty of good years. But the military isn’t an easy career. On any family.”

“I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too.” Her smile trembled. “Your father wasn’t a saint. He was a man. Carolina shouldn’t be held to standards that no one can achieve. Please think about that.”

“I will.” It was all he would think about. “How would you feel if that…that woman had had a child and you ran into her?”

“Awful,” she whispered.

Now he had a different perspective on Carolina’s actions. How could he condone her decisions when he related more to the people she was hurting?

* * *

CAROLINA HUNG UP from her hour-long call with her mother’s insurance company. Some good news. Some bad. But at least she now had a contact to call at both Dr. Laster’s office and the insurance company.

Her mother was coming home Monday. Since it was Thursday, she had a few days to get everything cleaned up. She rolled her neck, trying to ease the kinks.

At least Abby would be happy to have her out of the apartment. She checked the time. Her shift started in twenty minutes. After changing into a Southern Comforts shirt, she headed to the restaurant.

Sage wouldn’t stop in tonight. He planned to stay late painting at Mamá’s. She pressed her fingers on the dull ache in her belly.

He’d said she would have him forever and then hadn’t seen her for the rest of the week. Sure they’d talked. Texted. But the connection between them was stretching thin.

She inhaled. No more stressing out. Entering the restaurant through the kitchen door, she ran into Abby.

Abby nodded, her face taking on that frozen look she got anytime they were near.

“Hi.” Carolina stiffened her back. “My mother’s being released Monday. I’ll move out of the apartment Sunday.”

Abby frowned. “That’s good news, right?”

“It’s…” Her lips trembled. God. No more tears. She was tired of crying.

Abby’s eyes went wide. She took Carolina’s arm and tugged her into her tiny office. “Sit.”

Abby left.

Carolina sniffed back the tears. She was so tired. Her emotions were out of control.

“Here.” Abby handed her a glass of water.

“Thanks.”

“Talk.” Abby leaned against the desk, crossing her arms.

“The seizures are under control. That’s why she’s able to go home. But she’s now in hospice.”

“But they’re good.”

“Yes. I really liked the people we met,” Carolina admitted.

“So what’s the problem?”

“It means that there’s not much more they can do for her. That her doctor thinks she’s got around six months to live.”

“I’m sorry.” Abby reached over and touched her hand. “I knew she was going through cancer treatment and having seizures, but I didn’t realize it was terminal.”

Carolina nodded, numbness making the action slow and heavy. “She’s the only family I have left in the world.”

Abby pulled her hand away. Shutters closed off her face.

Damn. Carolina was sitting there with her half sister. Family. Except she was the dirty secret. The bastard. That was enough to dry her tears.

Carolina stood. “Do you want Ella to move out of the apartment, too?”

“I hadn’t thought that far.” Abby pushed stray hairs back into her ponytail. “I’ll let you and Ella know tonight.”

“Sure.”

Carolina rushed out of Abby’s office. Everything was closing in around her. She needed to pack her clothes, clean out Poppy’s study so they could move the hospital bed in on Saturday, and restock the food in Mamá’s house. And she should probably look for a new job.

---