Carson, a radiologist, slid into an opening a year ago and her brothers were currently living together in the house Hudson had purchased. She found it funny that at thirty-five her brothers still didn’t like to be separated.
“I just got the worst news ever.”
“Come here, baby,” her mother said, opening her arms. “Come tell Mom all about it.”
She went into her mother’s arms only because there was no one else home to witness it. Times like this she felt like the little kid that needed someone to tell her it’d be okay.
When she was done explaining everything, her mother pulled her over to the couch. “Sit here while I get us some coffee and we’ll make a plan. First step is we go back to the bank and I’ll open up a new account in my name for you to deposit your paycheck and pay your bills out of. Get a debit card too. No one looks at names anymore, just sign mine and it won’t seem like this is going on.”
“I can’t ask you to do that,” she said, following her mother to the kitchen.
No reason to sit on the couch in the family room when she could sit at the island and chat. Her parents’ house on Amore Island wasn’t as big as the one they owned in Boston. The house she grew up in. This one still had three bedrooms and two and half bathrooms with an office, formal living room, family room and bonus room upstairs. More than enough space for them.
“You didn’t ask, but I’m doing it anyway so don’t argue. I’ll transfer over twenty-five thousand for you so you can get your affairs in order, set up all your automatic payments and have plenty in case it takes time for your check to go through direct deposit. Not only would you feel uncomfortable having that much cash lying around, but it will make life difficult to manage without a bank account or credit cards.”
“I don’t need that much,” she said, grabbing a tissue. “I’ve got about fifteen thousand in my checking, the rest all in savings. I can pay this debt off, but I shouldn’t have to. I didn’t do it.”
“Of course you didn’t, and no, you aren’t going to do that. That might prove your guilt and let this person get away with it. I want you to call Hailey right now and talk to her. She will advise you on the next step. Put it on speaker if you don’t mind and we can listen and formulate the next step together.”
“Thank you,” Ava said. “I’m usually calm and always in control, but right now I’m just so mad and upset.”
Her mother set the coffee down in front of her and patted her hand. “Of course you are, sweetie. I’m feeling all those things for you. What was that man’s name at the bank again?”
“Seth. Seth Young. He gave me his card and told me to call him once everything was set and he’d put a hold on all my accounts so that the credit card companies couldn’t try to extract payment.”
“Smart. We’ll call him as soon as we talk to Hailey. Call her now and tell her secretary it’s an emergency.”
“But is it?” she asked, taking a sip of the creamy coffee that no one made better than her mother.
“To your sanity it is. And it’s family. You’ve always wanted your own identity away from the Bonds and now that it’s being threatened you’re having a harder time, aren’t you?”
She was shocked her mother knew that about her. That there were times having the Bond relation around her neck felt like weight threatening to break her back.
Many thought she should have a free ride in life. Others thought she could get away with murder.
“I am. I just never thought this would happen.”
“No one does. Hailey will be annoyed if you don’t have her paged. If you call her cell she won’t think it’s an emergency either.”
She knew her mother was right. Hailey was one of the little pit bulls of the family. She didn’t take crap from anyone and probably never would.
She hit the button to make the call, then waited on hold. “Ava, what’s going on?” Hailey asked.
“I’m on speaker with my mother. I’m in a bit of trouble.”
“Not trouble she made,” her mother said. “Trouble has found Ava and we need your help.”
As always, her mother was the voice of calm.
By the time she was done explaining everything and then got a lecture from Hailey that she could have locked her social security number or put alerts on things to prevent this, she was feeling somewhat calmer. “Go to the bank with your mother and do what she suggested. You’ll feel better and more in control knowing you have money at your disposal. If you can get a list of these accounts that are fraudulent and send to me, I’ll get working on my end,” Hailey said.
“I think she should hire a PI to find this person too,” her mother said.
“I like your thinking, Lacy,” Hailey said. “But if you want to keep this quiet, give Eli a call. His director of security has a long reach and will be discreet.”
“I don’t want anyone else in the family to know,” she said.
“Why?” Hailey asked. “You didn’t do anything wrong other than to be naive enough to think this couldn’t happen to you. Let it be a lesson for the rest of the family, but no one will talk outside the family and many will help.”
She knew Hailey was right, but it was still an embarrassment that she didn’t think this could happen to her and it did. What a mess. “Okay. Once we get everything set at the bank and my accounts on hold, I’ll have Seth send everything over.”
“Oh, Seth Young,” Hailey said. “Great guy. He’ll help you out and lead you in the right
