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I entered the room slowly. My mind spun through what she could possibly want to talk about. I pulled the chair out from the wall and sat, my back rigid as I twisted my lips into one of my warm, fake smiles usually reserved for customer service.
“What did you want to see me about?” I kept my tone light.
Wanda shifted in her chair, her eyes darting away from mine. “Wren,” she started, and then paused. She clenched her hands together in her lap and sighed. “Do you by any chance know how to pick a lock?”
I blinked, taken by surprise. I did know how to pick a lock. When I was in one of my first foster homes, the parents liked to lock the cabinets so we couldn’t get food without permission. A boy there taught me how to pick the locks when we were really hungry. It was a skill I’d held on to and it came in handy sometimes. It was one of the reasons I always kept a pin in my hair.
I had no idea why Wanda wanted to know that, though.
Part of me sensed that I should lie. But I couldn’t do that. I liked Wanda. I wasn’t going to lie to her for no reason.
Slowly, I nodded. “Yeah, I actually do. Just simple locks, nothing complex or fancy. It’s a little trick I picked up when I was younger.” I shrugged for good measure.
Wanda deflated. That wasn’t the answer she was looking for.
“I was hoping that wasn’t the case.” She sighed.
“What’s all this about?” I arched a brow, folding my arms over my chest.
She licked her lips nervously. “I’m so sorry, dear. But…I know you served Liv Johnston in your section the other day. She’s the owner’s daughter?”
She asked it like a question and my stomach plummeted at the mention of Liv. If this had anything to do with her, it wasn’t good. I nodded. “Yes, I remember her.”
Wanda blew a loose piece of graying hair out of her face. “Well, yesterday, when I was counting the drawer for the night, I came up short by a few hundred dollars.” A pink flush crept up her neck as she glanced down at the cash box always kept on the desk. The cash box that had a lock on it.
“You know we keep the office open to the staff because it’s the only place to store your coats and any other personal items. And we simply keep the cash box locked at all times. Me and the owner are the only ones with a key.”
Nausea squirmed in my gut. I stared at her, speechless.
Wanda cleared her throat. “Anyway, Liv…she—she told us that she saw you in the office during your shift yesterday. She said she saw you take the money. The only way I could think of to make that possible was if you picked the lock or something.” She chewed on her lower lip.
And there it was. The bombshell.
My eyes fluttered closed as I processed. I hadn’t realized how very dead set Liv was on ruining any semblance of peace and happiness I’d built here.
When I opened my eyes, Wanda was looking at me with round, sad eyes.
“I’m so, so sorry, Wren. If it were up to me, I’d tell Liv to shove it. You’ve been such a wonderful employee and I’d never think you were capable—”
I cut her off with a raised hand. “I get it, Wanda. It’s okay. I understand.” I actually didn’t understand, but I wasn’t about to cause a scene. Maybe I’d try to talk with her once I’d had time to process and calm down. My nerves were shot today.
Wanda’s eyes filled with tears. Her round cheeks turned pink. “Maybe, if you return the money, I can talk to the owner. I know you, Wren. I know there must have been a good reason for you to take it. I’m sure he would understand...”
She trailed off as I shook my head. I had enough money to pay for the missing few hundred, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cross my mind to hand over the money and hope for the best. I could make it up within the week.
But handing over the money would also be admitting guilt. I was guilty of many things, but I wasn’t a thief. I’d never stolen from my place of business, and I wouldn’t lie about it.
“Thank you, Wanda.” I didn’t say anything else as I stood and walked out of her office. I walked out of the restaurant that had become more of a second home to me, a second family.
My feet were heavy as lead, and I’d just made it to one of the benches lining the outside of the marina when I collapsed into tears. I wasn’t sure how long I sat there, but my ribs ached, and my throat was sore when someone softly said my name.
I looked up, my hands flying to my face to smear away the tears, but there was no hiding the fact I was a mess. Tony’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at me, hands stuffed in the pockets of his dark jeans.
“Is everything all right?” he asked cautiously.
I sniffed, pressing my lips together as I nodded. I didn’t trust myself to speak.
His eyes narrowed further as he gave me a doubtful expression. He glanced around us, but I wasn’t sure what he was looking for.
“Do you need a ride or anything?”
I blinked at him. He seemed uncomfortable, but I appreciated that he was trying to help. I shook my head. I’d parked the truck in the marina parking lot. What I needed was to stop sobbing long enough to see the damn road. I couldn’t, though. I couldn’t stop the feeling that everything had been taken from me.
Tony didn’t move. He shifted on his feet, hands still stuck in his pockets. He sighed. “Look, I get that we don’t know each other really well, but I want you to know that if you ever need anything, I’m here.” He looked down at his shoes. “I know you helped El warm up to me and all and…I want you to know I appreciate that.” He glanced back up, meeting my eyes.
My heart softened at his compassion. I managed a weak smile, nothing more than a slight uptick at the corner, but it was all I could manage. “Thank you,” I rasped.
He nodded. “Take care of yourself.” He turned and made his way toward the parking lot.
I bit my lip, watching him walk away. Even in the midst of sadness, there was always, always a pinprick of light—of hope. I had to remember that. I had to cling to the promise of hope and purpose like I always had before.
