Her mother gasped. Her father’s hands turned to fists.
“He told me he sold some investments.” Renewed anger rocketed through her and she swallowed a lump of emotion. Suddenly, the cinnamon bun felt like a bad idea. It sat like lead in her stomach. “I found out the truth when the company brought me in for questioning. They tried to blame me. As if someone in marketing could steal better than two accountants. Worse,sheworked in the office and everyone knew about their affair, except me.”
She downed her coffee in a vain attempt to ease the tightness in her throat. Her dad moved behind her, hands lightly massaging her shoulders. “I kicked his ass to the curb. Quit my job and left. My lawyer is handling the sale of the condo, either to Evan or the general market.” She sniffed back a tear.
“That rotten, good-for-nothing…I’ll kick his butt into next week.” Her mom slammed her hands onto the counter. “Oh, when I see him…” she sputtered to a stop, making Hailey laugh.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Did you want me to beat him up?” her dad asked, rounding the table, jabbing his fist in the air like a prize fighter. Hailey laughed. This, from a man who wouldn’t hurt a fly and carried spiders outside to freedom rather than squashing them.
“I think we’re good, Dad. But thanks. Can we eat now?” she asked, ravenous since the news was out in the open and she had their support.
Her mom glanced at the stove timer. “Two minutes to broccoli-ham-cheddar quiche. Your favorite.
“Yummy.” This was a feast. Fruit salad and whipped cream sat temptingly in the center of the table. Quiche, bacon, fresh, hot cinnamon buns. Wow! “Do you guys eat like this all the time? If I’d known that, I’d have come home sooner.”
“Nope. Your mother is always rushing off to the store, leaving me to eat cold cereal.” His statement caused a frown on her mother’s face, but he went on without concern. “This is special for your homecoming. We’ve missed you.”
Hailey jumped up to embrace her parents again. “I love you guys. So much.” This was exactly what she needed. Time at home to rest and lick her wounds. Then, she’d get on with her life and find a way to help Jesse. Working together, they finished setting the table and with the food in place, sat down to eat. Stuffed to the gills, Hailey pushed her plate to the side and pulled her third cup of coffee closer. She lifted one foot to the chair and sat, hugging her knee, coffee in hand.
“So, what are your plans?” her mom asked baldly, failing to hide her concern.
“Find a job, I guess. Save a bit and rent a place of my own. Start over.” Hopefully, it would be that easy. There probably wasn’t much work in Silver Creek for a disgraced marketing expert. Still, she’d look until she found something, anything, which paid enough to live on.
“Nonsense,” her father objected. “You can live here with us. Work at the shop so your mother can travel with me.”
“I’m not quitting my shop. I’ve run that store since I was Hailey’s age. Our girls came to work with me most days; they grew up there. This is a hiccup. I won’t let it knock me down.” Her mother shredded the napkin in her hands, tiny bits of paper fell to the table.
“You love your stupid store more than you love me.” He threw his napkin on the table and slammed his chair back into the wall. “Mark my words, Elizabeth Masters, one day I’ll make you choose between us.” He glared at his wife. “Welcome home, Hailey. I’m going golfing.”
“Will you be home for dinner?” her mom asked, seemingly oblivious to her husband’s ultimatum.
“You’ll see me when you see me. Don’t wait up.” He stormed out of the kitchen. Two minutes later, the side door opened and slammed shut.
Hailey stared at the doorway her father had disappeared through. Not once in her life had she ever seen her father lose his temper. He was the calm in every storm. Even when their shop was faced with false accusations and a lawsuit, he’d kept his cool and prevented her mother from coming unhinged. This retirement issue must have been brewing for a long time. Her parents loved Two Angels Gifts. Both of them. When had it become an albatross to her father? Living twelve hours away, in another country, Hailey had missed a lot. Weekly conversations weren’t the same as in-person visits.
That changed. Now.
She was staying here, in Silver Creek. Close to her family. Her sister, Kiera, was only three hours away in Edmonton and happily married with a family. Hailey doubted her older sister even realized there was trouble in paradise.
“I think we need to talk.” Hailey looked at her mother who was stirring her coffee like she was trying to carve her way through the bottom of her mug.
“Pfft. Nothing to talk about, dear. Your father is simply being stubborn about this. He’ll come around eventually. He always does. He’s a dear man, but a trifle stubborn.” She stood. “Can you clean up, dear? I have to get to work. Dinner’s at seven.” She hugged Hailey with a half-distracted embrace and scurried out of the kitchen.
Hailey’s mouth dropped open. She snapped it shut. She didn’t know what she wanted to say, even if her mother was still here to hear it. She looked around the kitchen. The mess was enormous, like they’d fed an army, not three people. The gray slate counters were covered with dishes. Even the milk was still out. It would take her an hour to tidy up. She poured herself another coffee and tried to relax. “Welcome home, Hailey.” She toasted herself with her mug.
Chapter Four
“Man, you look like you were rode hard and put away wet.” Lincoln Brace, Jesse’s closest friend greeted him first thing the next morning, outside the family crisis center.
“You do love your cowboy-isms, don’t you? Though I don’t appreciate being referred to as a horse.” Jesse laughed, slapping his Stetson-clad friend on the back.
“Once a rancher, always a rancher. What’s with the rough look? You tie one on last night?”
“As if.” Jesse hadn’t been drunk, ever, in his entire life. He had nothing against alcohol, he just refused to let it rule his life like his mother. “Trouble sleeping, is all. You look revved up and raring to go.”
“Spent the last half hour in Beth’s Beans. That woman makes a mean cup of coffee and her breakfast sandwiches are to die for.” He patted his slim belly happily.
