Darby’s words tore through McKenna’s mind. Every detail of those two days remained etched in her memory.
When her appointment with Camille Jenkins and her parents ran long and her next client arrived early, Erin offered to finish the paperwork before clocking out. A while later, Darby discovered the cash discrepancy and confronted McKenna. That night she’d asked if Erin knew what could’ve caused the inconsistency, and the story poured out.
For months Erin’s latest live-in boyfriend had pocketed her share of the rent money, stiffing their landlord. Then he’d run off with anything he could carry to pawn. Erin was on the verge of eviction, and when Mr. Jenkins handed her a wad of cash, she’d seen it as the answer to her problems. She’d meant to pay the money back eventually. Honestly.
Erin broke down when McKenna encouraged her to tell the truth. She’d lose her job, and how would she find another with only a high school education if she was fired for stealing? No, she couldn’t return the money. She’d paid her landlord. Couldn’t McKenna help her? She’d learned her lesson. She’d never let a man scam her again.
No amount of reasoning, cajoling, or intimidating changed Erin’s mind about coming forward, leaving McKenna in an untenable position. Turn in her sister or take responsibility for the shortage since she’d been the senior staff member that day. She’d chosen the latter, and spent the next year, six months, and twenty-four days out of work and unable to collect unemployment because she’d been fired.
Now Erin wanted to quit, making what McKenna had gone through for nothing? No way. “You don’t know how awful unemployment is. Trust me it’s not something you want to experience. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”
“You don’t understand how horrible it was at work after you left. Darby’s always riding me. She complains about everything I do. There’s no pleasing her.”
McKenna’s hand shook with her anger, sending coffee sloshing from her cup onto her pants. “Call Darby tomorrow. Say you were in shock, and you’ve changed your mind. Ask if you can come back.”
“I don’t want that crappy job. The pay was lousy, and I hated being her assistant. She’s a bitch. Do you know she made me pick up her dry cleaning, prescriptions, and take her cat to the vet?”
“I sympathize. I really do. That doesn’t sound fulfilling, but it’s easier to find a job while you have one. Work for Darby, but look for a new job, and when you find one, then quit.”
Erin leaned back against the couch. “Actually, I have great a plan.”
McKenna inwardly cringed. Why did her sister’s words fill her with dread instead of confidence? “What?”
“You remember Jeff?”
“No.” Without keeping a spreadsheet, she couldn’t track Erin’s relationships.
“We broke up when he went to rehab.”
McKenna nodded. Had Jeff been the boyfriend before Lance the abuser or had there been someone in between? Not that it mattered.
“He’s doing great since rehab. He called because he misses me.” Erin’s face lit up. “He’s a blackjack dealer at the Bellagio in Vegas and makes tons of money. He wants me to join him. Jeff says he’ll get me a dealer job, too. Once the money starts rolling in, I’ll be set.”
“It’s wonderful he’s doing well, but are you sure moving somewhere because of a guy is wise? What if it doesn’t work out? What if the job falls through?”
“Then I’ll be inVegasmaking good money, and I can take care of myself,” Erin said, ignoring the job pitfalls.
While apprehension and doubt over Erin’s plan twisted inside McKenna, her sister was an adult and it was her life. But instinct insisted Erin hadn’t gotten to the real issue yet. “Then why aren’t you heading to Las Vegas?”
“My car barely made it here.”
Now they had gotten somewhere. Erin needed money. Rather than asking how much or offering money as she would’ve before, McKenna waited.
“I don’t expect you to buy me a car.” A nervous, brittle laugh bubbled out of Erin. “I need money to fix mine, for gas, and my half of this month’s expenses.”
McKenna stared at her sister. Had she ever been that naïve? She never would’ve asked for help. She’d have gotten a second job and saved the money. Stubbornness radiated from her sister’s eyes and her posture. She didn’t want to hear what McKenna had to say, and if she listened it wouldn’t change her mind.
Helping Erin, ensuring her safety when Lance beat her had been one thing, but this situation wasn’t urgent or life threatening. If Erin wanted to move to Las Vegas, she should save the money.
McKenna placed her coffee mug on the end table and folded her hands in her lap to still her nervousness. The water wings were coming off, and Erin wouldn’t be happy about it. “I was unemployed for a year and a half.”Because of your actions and refusal to come forward with the truth.“I’m in debt to my armpits. I can’t loan you money. If you wanted to get to Las Vegas, you shouldn’t have quit your job until you’d saved the money.”
Her eyes wide with shock, Erin swallowed hard. “What? Seriously? You won’t give me the money?”
The fact Erin had changed McKenna’s loan to a gift irritated McKenna further. “It’s not that I won’t. I can’t.”
“What am I gonna do? I asked Mom and Dad, and they both said no, too.”
From the time they were children, McKenna watched out for Erin. She’d wanted to spare Erin the fear of being completely on her own without a safety net. But she realized her well-meaning assistance prevented her sister from learning self-reliance.
