They Left Me Out of Their Group So I'll Leave Them Out of My Life novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: The Cover Story

The silver Buick turned into the lot before my father's hand had left the hood.

Someone in the shop had called her.

My mother got out wearing her good cream coat and walked toward us with her purse held in front of her in both hands.

Her eyes were already wet.

"Russ," she said. "Honey, I came as fast as I could."

"Bernice." My father's voice was flat. "A man was just here from Lakeland."

"I know. The girl at your front desk phoned me." She pressed her fingers to her lips. "Oh, Russ, I wanted to tell you myself. I didn't want you to hear it like this."

"Hear what?"

"Corina called them."

I stared at her.

"She called the credit union," my mother said, and turned her tear-filled eyes on me. "I begged her not to. The loan is a small thing, Russ, a bridge, you signed for it years ago and forgot. I've handled the payments. But she has been so angry since the dinner, and she's got it into her head to ruin Colby's day."

"I did not call anyone," I said.

"She told me she would," my mother said softly. "On Hartman Street. You heard her, Russ."

"I heard her say you'd taken her money," my father said.

"I borrowed what she offered. She wanted to help. She's always been so generous, and then she regrets it."

"Mom. I have twenty-two bank transfers in my name."

"Of course you do, honey. Because you chose to send them."

I said, "You told me it was tuition."

"Did I? I said it was for the family."

It was so smooth that I felt dizzy.

I looked at my father.

He had taken his hand off the truck.

He stood between us with his shoulders bowed, his eyes going from her face to mine.

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