Page 56 of Love, Untangled

Marvin was with a client when Pen arrived, so she perched on the edge of a chair, her knees bouncing under her denim skirt. Once his customer, a middle-aged woman with hair pulled back in a tight, iron-gray bun, walked from his office, Marvin ushered her forward.

“So I did some digging after I saw Carlo at the café on Saturday morning, and I don’t like the documents your mother, Serena, used to show she was ever on your grandmother’s account.”

Pen wet her lower lip, the coldness in her belly expanding. “Are you… Do you think she faked the documents?”

“Well, I was wondering if you could go through your grandmother’s records. It’s a long shot, but if she doesn’t have similar statements with your mother’s name on them—if the money amount doesn’t match up, which I’m pretty sure it won’t—then we can take the case to the sheriff.”

Pen’s knees bounced harder. “And what would that do?”

Marvin shuffled through some of his files and pulled out a form. “I had to look it up.”

His comment eased some of Pen’s concerns—Marvin was good at his job, so if he didn’t know the answer, then Pen couldn’t be expected to either. He slid the form across the desk for Pen to peruse.

“We’d be talking embezzlement. It carries some stiff penalties and prison time.”

Pen stared down at the sheet, her heart thudding hard against her ribs. She nibbled at her cheek, waffling between the possibilities. Could she live with herself, knowing she was the reason her mother was in jail? Could she let her mother terrorize her and take Nana’s house?

She wanted to talk to Carlo.

“Can I think about it?” she asked, hesitant because she didn’t want to annoy Marvin.

“Of course. It’s your choice. But I have to tell you, it didn’t sit right with me, her taking the money like that.”

“I want a second opinion,” Pen blurted.

Marvin nodded, his expression serious. “That’s smart.” Then he smiled, his eyes sparkling. “Would that opinion be Carlo’s?”

Pen groaned even as she stuffed the piece of paper into her large tote. She had to move yarn out of the way to make sure it was deep enough in the bag. “Not you too.”

“Me too, what?” Marvin asked, all innocence.

“You think because Hattie gave us the spice we’re going to be a couple.”

When Pen rose, adjusting the strap of her tote on her shoulder, Marvin slid from his chair and came around the desk, leaning his hip against the edge. “Nope.”

Pen’s eyes widened. She’d been sure Marvin was superstitious—like most of the rest of the town when it came to the spice.

“I think you were destined to be a couple and the spice helped you get to the good part faster.” He smiled again, an indulgent one. “That’s what happened with Shiloh and me, although she took some convincing.”

“I’m happy for you,” Pen said. She was, but she was also flustered. “I’m going to go.”

“Yeah, sure. Carlo should be at Blazers if you’re going to be looking for him.”

Pen wheeled around to study Marvin again. “Blazers?”

“The fire station. He’s doing the training to certify for the volunteer squad…and you didn’t know that.” Marvin’s eyes widened and he backpedaled, hands up, palms out. “Don’t be mad.”

“Why on earth would I be mad at you?” Pen asked.

“I don’t know. Just…don’t be mad at anyone about that.”

Pen assured him she wasn’t angry. But as she got into her car and drove it back to her farm, she realized she was hurt. Deeply.

Because that decision to start back as a volunteer firefighter was something a couple would share with each other, talk through with each other.

And Carlo hadn’t done that.

Chapter 28

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