Page 52 of Homecoming Heartbreaker

Jameson’s frown deepened as he looked from Molly to Mack and back again. “Look, I know you are all trying to keep me wrapped up in cotton wool but I won’t have it! What is going on?”

They’d been told to keep his anxiety levels down and that was what they’d do. Judging by Molly’s attempt to smile, she agreed. They both loved Jameson and would do anything in their power to shield him from stress.

Jameson slapped his hands on his thighs. “I demand to know what made you cry.”

Molly’s frantic eyes met his and he caught the small shake of her head. They were on the same page; she wanted to keep the embezzlement at Moonlight Ridge quiet.

“If one of you doesn’t start talking, I’m going to get out of bed and beat it out of you,” Jameson told them. Mack recognized it for the idle threat it was since Jameson never once raised a hand to any of them.

“Pops, just relax. We’re handling everything,” Mack said, trying to soothe him.

“I don’t want you to handle it. I want to be involved. I want to know what’s going on!” Jameson shouted, gripping the bed covers with a tight hold.

Mack winced. Jameson, whenever he got the bit between his teeth, refused to let go. He’d yell and shout until he got an answer. And if they tried to leave, he was stubborn enough to follow them out the door.

They had to tell him something...something he’d believe.

But Mack didn’t know what.

Molly took the decision out of his hands by sitting on the bed facing Jameson, her thigh next to his hip. Mack knew she was going to confess and he wished she wouldn’t; not because Jameson couldn’t take it but because he didn’t want to alter the relationship between Jameson and Molly.

“Mol,don’t.”

Molly didn’t drop her eyes from Jameson’s face. “I have to, Mack. I can’t live with it anymore and he deserves to know.”

Jameson’s huge hand covered Molly’s, making hers disappear from view. “Is this about the two grand you stole when you were a kid?” he asked.

Molly’s mouth dropped open, the shock causing her features to slacken. Mack was better at masking his emotions but he felt his eyes widen. So the old man knew all along? What the hell? Mack looked at Giada, who didn’t look too surprised, either. She hadn’t been around at the time so that meant Jameson told her.

How close were these two anyway?

“You know?” Molly whispered.

“I’ve known since the day you took it.”

“But...how?”

Jameson shrugged. “It wasn’t hard to figure out. You were the only person besides the boys who knew I stashed money in that Chinese tea caddy.”

“Everyone knew you did that, Jay,” Giada told him.

Jameson rolled his eyes at her. “Okay then, smarty-pants, Molly was the only person who knew, had access to my office and who was in a jam.”

Mack leaned his shoulder into the wall and dropped his head to hide his smile. Damn, the old man was sharp. And how stupid were they to think that they’d pulled one over on him? He always knew everything...

A tear ran down Molly’s cheek. “I’m so, so sorry. I know it was wrong but—”

“But you were being evicted and your family made it your problem to find the money,” Jameson said, sounding disgusted. “You were a kid, Molly. They had no right to put pressure on you to find a solution.”

“Still, I stole from you,” Molly said, her voice breaking. “I have the money. I put it into a savings account and its earned interest. I’ll write you a check.” Molly pulled her hand from Jameson’s and stood up, her body shaking with tension. “Why didn’t you say something?”

Jameson pulled a face. “I kept expecting you to admit it. You never could keep a secret. I nearly told you when you refused my offer to pay for your college expenses—you are stupidly stubborn by the way—”

“I learned it from you,” Molly shot back.

“I expected you to tell me when you first started working for me but you didn’t. So I respected your privacy and decided that you would tell me when you were ready. Or you might not. Either way, it didn’t change how much I loved you, how proud I was of you.”

Molly dropped her head and stared at the floor. “How can you say that? I did what my father did. I stole from you.”

---