Straight Up Love (The Boys of Jackson Harbor #2)(39)

Jill gasps, and her cheeks flush pink to red as she stares at my father across the table.

“Dad,” I say. “That’s harsh.”

He shifts his gaze to me. “You’ve been through hard times. Did you ask for money after Harrison left you? With all the debt you racked up, I’m sure it would have been easier to ask us to bail you out.”

My cheeks heat at that reminder. When I was married to Harrison, he encouraged me to take lavish spa days and go shopping with my friends. He handled the finances, and I had no idea that all those credit card bills were piling up, only getting the minimum payment each month. It was so important to Harrison that it looked like we had money to the outside world that he even let me believe it. He “let me” keep that crazy debt after we divorced, too. I wouldn’t have felt right about him taking it on, but I couldn’t help but resent Harrison’s lack of transparency about our financial situation. My whole marriage was a lesson in lies by omission.

“If you did it, so can Molly,” Dad says.

My stepsister looks utterly defeated, and I shoot her an apologetic smile. “I’m sure Molly will be fine, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve a helping hand. We all need help from time to time.”

Dad scowls at me. “What’s gotten into you tonight, Ava? My word is final.”

I open my mouth, but Jill reaches across the table and brushes my arm with her fingertips. I see the warning in her eyes telling me to let it go for now. I have to grit my teeth to keep from saying more.



“Ava?” Jill says as we’re cleaning up the kitchen. Dad retired to his office to take a business call, and Molly excused herself to her old room to shower. “Could I ask you a favor?”

I nod. My stomach’s been in knots since dinner, and I would worry that I offended Jill by not eating her cooking, but it seems no one but Dad had much of an appetite. “What’s that?”

“You know your father,” she says. “I don’t expect him to budge on this Molly thing, but I’m going to talk to him after he unwinds tonight.”

After he unwinds is Jill’s code for after he has his whiskey. Not sure whiskey’s gonna help. He was already half lit when he went off at the dinner table. “It’s nice of you to try,” I say. I don’t expect him to budge, either. My father doesn’t budge. It’s not in his personality. He makes a decision and he sticks to it. This might be an admirable quality in a businessman, but it’s shit in a father.

“Well, if I’m not successful . . .” She looks away. “I have no right to ask this, but would you have money to loan Molly for a while? I have a little, but since your father handles our finances, it’ll be tricky to get to it. I’ll pay you back just as soon as I can manage.”

I bite my tongue. My father doesn’t “handle” the finances. He controls them. The difference is significant—I’m well aware from experience—and anger on my stepmother’s behalf flares in the pit of my belly. But I’m angry for more than her. I’m angry for Molly. I’m angry for me.

I don’t need to wonder how Dad will react if I’m successful in my plans and he discovers I intentionally became a single mom. I already know how he will feel. Tonight wasn’t a revelation; it was a reminder.

“How much do you think she needs?” I ask.

“I’ll find out, but I’m sure it’s just temporary. You know Molly—something always comes around for her. She’s never depended on anyone else.” She snaps her mouth shut, as if she suddenly realized she just insulted me. I depended on someone else once, and it didn’t end well. Then again, maybe she’s thinking of how she depends on my dad.

“I could float her a small loan if you think that would help,” I say softly. It’ll come from my emergency fund, but I know between Jill and Molly, I’ll get it back.

She exhales in relief. “I’m sure anything you can spare would make a difference. I’d like her to have a chance to get on her feet without it crushing her spirit. Your father doesn’t realize how hard she’s had to work to stay afloat these last five years. He doesn’t know that she’s had to make sacrifices for . . .” She shakes her head and squeezes my hand. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure she’ll appreciate your help as much as I do.” The stress in Jill’s eyes makes me feel like I just stepped off the tilt-a-whirl. She always brought calm to this household, but something’s changed. “I’ll let you know what your dad says when I ask him to reconsider, but . . .”

“I know. That’s Dad.”

She swallows and gives a tight smile. “He’s not always easy to love, you know.”

None of us are, I think. “He’s lucky to have you.”

“You don’t have to say that,” she says softly. She shakes her head and sighs as she squeezes my hand, and I wonder if she truly doesn’t see the truth.





Ava


I let myself into the back of Jackson Brews and go straight to the walk-in cooler in search of Jake’s famous “goat balls.” I had no appetite at Dad’s, but now I’m hungry and stressed, and I want comfort food. I find the breaded bites of fresh goat cheese on a sheet tray at the back of the cooler, slide it out, then head to the deep fryer.