Page 108
He frowns, taken aback. “Oh?”
“It’s—she’s—” I groan, frustrated. I take a deep breath, and more gently, I say, “She’s been lying to you. Or not lying, exactly, but keeping things from you.”
Dad nods for me to continue.
“It started last year with your heart attack. She told you she’d handle the bills and insurance claims, but that was all me. She panicked when she saw the hospital bills and the medication costs and she admitted to me that she spent all your savings.”
Dad opens his mouth and I expect him to refute it, to call me a liar. But he just sighs. “Ah, shit.”
My heart skips a beat. “Did you know?”
He looks at me with wide eyes, shaking his head. “No, Peanut. But I had an inkling. I thought the savings might have gone to my bills, and I felt awful about it.”
I shake my head. “No, that money was gone before.”
He stares at me in shock. “So, you’ve been paying all the bills?”
I nod, wringing my hands together.
“Peanut, no,” he says, face crumpling and fists clenching. “Why would you do that? You’re barely out of college. My god.”
I put my hands up, trying not to upset him. “It’s fine, I would have done it a hundred times over. That’s not why I’m telling you. It’s—well, mom called me earlier this week and she threatened me.”
His eyes close and he hides his face in his hands—in anger or shame, I can’t tell.
“She said if I don’t send her more money, she’d sell stories to the tabloids. Stories about me. About Levi,” I say, reaching for my boyfriend’s hand.
He clutches mine back tightly, a solid presence at my side.
“I sent her the money, and I would have continued going on with her charades, but—” I look over at Levi, giving him a brief smile. “But I can’t have her ruin this thing we have. I won’t let that happen,” I say more forcefully.
“Peanut, I’m so sorry. I always knew your mother had issues with money, especially in the past. She’s been in debt more times than I can count, but this…” He shakes his head. “To hurt you like this, it’s unacceptable.”
“I really didn’t want to keep this from you, but I felt like I didn’t have a choice.”
“It’s not your fault,” Dad says, kneeling in front of me, taking my free hand in his. “I’ll fix this, okay?” He kisses my knuckles.
My tears fall freely and I let go of both of their hands to wrap my arms around my dad’s shoulders. I feel like a kid again, and he’s the only one who can make everything better.
“I’ll get you the money back,” he says, but I shake my head.
“No. I don’t care about that. I’m doing just fine,” I say, hugging him tighter. “I just want your forgiveness for not telling you sooner.”
“Of course I forgive you,” he says, petting my hair.
We stay like that, both of us crying, for what feels like forever. When he offers us coffee again, we accept and move the conversation back to golf, giving him all my recent updates.
We’re gone before Mom gets home. I don’t think I have it in me to face her now. Or ever. Levi drives the rental car to the hotel he booked for us and quietly takes me through the motions. He helps me with my bedtime routine, placing kisses in my hair, holding me close every chance he gets.
“You were right,” I say once we’re in bed and he holds me tightly to his chest.
“About what?” he asks, voice laced with sleep.
“I do feel like a weight has been lifted,” I breathe, sinking further into his embrace. “Thank you for encouraging me to face this head-on.”
“I like to think that’s what a good partner would do. We’re here to help each other grow,” he says, threading his fingers through mine.
I know without a doubt that I can handle anything with Levi by my side. He’s given me all the tools to succeed, not once claiming credit for it. A tear escapes and I bite my lip against the stupid giant smile that wants to take over my face. “I love you so much.”
