That was a sucker punch. He waited.
“Not a lie, exactly, but a lie of omission, which is still a lie.” She blushed. “I didn’t mean to. Okay, I did mean to. But I didn’t have a choice. I promised not to tell.” Her eyes pleaded for understanding. “I promised.”
“It’s okay.” How bad could it be?
“No, it’s not. I want full honesty from both of us. A clean slate. I don’t know how to say it. I promised not to tell.” She twisted her hands together.
This was tearing her apart. If she didn’t tell him soon, he’d be as nervous as she was. What could be so awful that she couldn’t share it?
Reality clicked in. Not what, who. His mother.
“What did Mom do?” He couldn’t keep the exasperation from his voice.
“I’m sorry. Jesse, I promised not to tell. I caught her shoplifting the other day.”
“And you had her arrested.” He jumped to the obvious conclusion. Only if his mother had been arrested, why hadn’t he been called to post bail?
“No,” she blurted. “I let her go. She was so sad and pathetic, and so contrite. She needs help. I couldn’t add the indignity of arrest to her burdens. She’s got enough burdens. But I promised not to tell you. Now, I’ve broken my promise,” she said sadly, shoulders drooping, lips quivering.
She was going to cry. Because of his mother. Was his travesty of a family ever going to resemble normal and stop damaging the people around them?
“Hey, relax. I appreciate your honesty. I won’t let on I know. It’s not the first time, by a long shot, and won’t be the last. I’m at my wits end with her. I have no idea how to get her to seek help.”
His mother was worse than a rebellious teenager. It was one thing after another. She bobbed from crisis to disaster and back. Over and over again. There were days when he just wanted to walk away and leave her to sort out her own disasters. But she was family and family stuck together, even when they were at wit’s end.
“Maybe she won’t steal again. Maybe she’ll be better this time.”
Jesse didn’t have the heart to steal Hailey’s hope. He loved her optimism, but wasn’t naïve enough to share it. Life’s hard knocks had kicked the optimism right out of him where his mother was concerned.
“Let’s hope so.” Somehow, he managed to keep the despair and futility from his voice. “I really appreciate you letting her off so easy, even if she didn’t deserve it. She’s in a tough spot. Maybe your kindness will help her find her way clear of this mess. Thank you.”
They went to work on more shelves, his heart torn between relief that he and Hailey were on good footing again and the exasperation of his mother’s foibles.
Chapter Seventeen
Exhausted, Hailey headed for home. The long days were taking their toll. She climbed into her SUV, missing the peaceful walk home. She just didn’t have the energy to walk the few blocks every night. Up before six to watch the sunrise with Jesse, followed by twelve to sixteen-hour days. Construction. Demolition. Bookkeeping. Cleaning. Her chores were endless, but she wouldn’t change a thing. Especially her time with Jesse.
Tonight, she planned a quiet night at home to rest and recuperate. Her parents had arrived at the coast. Surprisingly her mom was enjoying her retirement. She loved traveling and had mentioned the strengthening of her relationship with her husband. They’d head home soon and be there for the grand opening and take off to travel again until the holidays.
Hailey drove slowly down the slippery streets. The plows were busy but hadn’t made it to the residential areas yet. It would be hours before the roads were cleared of fresh, fallen snow.
The smart people were home tonight. There were almost no tracks in the snow. Large fluffy flakes blasted down, pushed by gusts of wind. There had been several snowfalls, but this was Silver Creek’s first near-blizzard of the season. She’d lived with snow all her life and loved it, but at the moment, she’d give anything to be safely home in bed.
She turned the corner and all vehicle tracks, except one set, vanished. She inched forward. The vehicle tracks fishtailed back and forth. Swerving from side to side. This section must be extra slippery. Several spots were polished to black ice where the driver had spun his tires.
Kids. Whatever young person was doing this should be safely at home this time of night, not risking their life in the storm.
If Hailey had known how bad the roads were, she’d have slept on the floor in her office, between the boxes.
She edged cautiously around the final corner onto her street. A car sat crookedly on the road, it’s headlights bright, nearly blinding her. She squinted against the glare. Who parked like that?
Slowing further, she drove past the aging sedan.
Whoa!
She stepped on the brake and slipped her SUV into neutral. She slowed to a stop and stared out the driver’s side window. The sedan had skidded to a stop against someone’s brick gate post. The post seemed okay, but radiator fluid leaked from the vehicle onto the street and the engine was still running. The driver’s door hung open.
She leaped out of the SUV, her boots slipping on the snow despite their grip. Arms out for balance, she inched toward the car.
