Stealing someone’s money was quite a different thing.
“And if you are wondering, I had no idea this was going on, but apparently Robert had. He got arrested just a bit ago. This is so humiliating, and I can’t even begin to think where I need to start.”
“Nothing you can do. Do what the government says, and that is all you can do. Your father will be the one paying the consequences, not you.”
“I have to make a living, Mom. What do you expect me to do?”
“You can figure it out. I believe in you. Wyatt figured it out early and damn near got disowned by your father. You can do that now as an adult.”
“I never really thought about what I wanted to do. I just did what I was supposed to do when Dad brought me in.”
“Your father is not an easy person, a nightmare, actually, and…”
“I know that.”
“People who do wrong always get caught, Cash. It might take a while but they always get what they have coming to them. When I asked him how we had so much money at certain times, he lied to me. I told him it would affect more than just him if something was to happen, but he didn't listen to me, as usual.”
“I gotta go, Mom. I’ve got a lot to figure out.” And I did. I was lost and it wasn't the first time I had felt that way. Just the first time I had no idea on where to start.
“I just heard.” Wyatt’s voice was abrupt and short. It wasn’t lost on me that I called the two people who I always tried to push away, my mother and my brother.
“Yeah…” I said. At this point, I wasn't sure what I wanted to hear.
“From what I heard, they did find Dad and he is being held at Travison jail for now.”
“What do you mean, for now?”
“It is a federal charge so he won’t stay in a county jail. He will be moved to a federal prison.”
“That’s not something I thought I would ever hear about our father,” I said.
“I can’t say I agree. Or that I am shocked. His moral compass has always been off.”
“Damn it, Wyatt! Of course his moral compass has been off. Not everyone was born a saint like you.” The level of my voice reached a volume I hadn’t intended.
“Right… well, stealing from people who think you are investing their money is a bit more than knowing right from wrong, wouldn't you say?” He said.
“Yeah.”
“Another piece fits into the puzzle, just another reason why he tried to disown me when I told him I wanted to be in law enforcement. I guess he was afraid I would put my nose in where he didn't want it.”
“And you didn’t? You didn't know about all this, did you? Mom said she had an idea something had been up, but she wasn't sure what exactly.”
“I didn't know what he was doing exactly, but he was a crook. I knew that much. Then you became a working monkey for him, helping him bring in the money.”
I relented, “I admit I was a monkey, as much as I hate to, but I’m telling you right now, I had nothing to do with stealing from people. I thought I was doing my job, closing deals with clients and keeping them happy.”
“You got pretty wealthy doing nothing but having a good time.”
I snapped, “I am NOT a thief.”
Wyatt cleared his throat void of a response.
“Look, Wyatt, I gotta go. I don't have time to rehash what I did wrong and how you didn’t.” I hung up, not waiting for an answer because I knew whatever it was going to be it wasn't going to be something I wanted to hear.
I was played a fool by my own father, how pathetic was that? It was right under my nose and I didn't know it.
Talking about all this just made me realize how I had wasted so much of my life.
I needed a drink or to be hit over the head, I wasn't sure which, maybe both.
EMMA
Running late was not something I did often. I hated the rush in the day if I had gotten off my schedule. Maybe that was because of the tight ship my father had always run. I grew up in a scheduled house, and I still lived that way.
My third cup of coffee was brewing, since I had already downed what I had made before jumping in the shower when my phone dinged.
Breigh: Open the door. I’m here.
I immediately walked to my door to let her in, surprised by her presence, but nevertheless happy to see her.
“What are you doing here?” I gave her a hug while she moved the coffees she carried to the side so we wouldn’t spill them.
“You making coffee runs in the morning?” I smiled, noticing she was bringing me my favorite from Maxwell’s, which we had been attending since we were teens.
“Just for you, honey bun. I had an early doctor appointment and wanted to leave Olivia at home with Wyatt.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just annual… fun, fun.”
“You look great for going to the doctor,” I commented.
“You’ll see one day, when you try to pretty yourself up strictly because you are leaving the house without the diaper bag or your baby on your hip.”
“I’m already running late, but I have a few minutes. Come talk to me as I finish getting my hair ready.”
“You still spend far too much time on yourself. I literally wake up, brush my teeth, put on deodorant, and moisturizer.”
“Some things never change. And you can do that and look perfect,” I told her as a compliment. Breigh was a natural beauty.
She smiled at me and then winked.
“So…something interesting happened, and I’ve been dying to fill you in.”
She took a sip of her
