“Not particularly. I would like you to come with me to the station. I have some questions about some missing money that you may be able to clear up,” Ephram stated.
It wasn’t a request.
Gavin’s smile faltered just slightly, the charm recalibrating as if he were adjusting to a new audience.
“Is this really necessary?” Gavin asked mildly.
“Yes,” Ephram said.
I stood there, my heart hammering, watching the exchange like it was happening through glass. Gavin glanced at me once,his expression unreadable, then he straightened, shifting from casual acquaintance to cooperative citizen in the space of a breath. “Of course. I’m happy to clear up any confusion Lydia might have caused.”
“I caused? Excuse me?” I asked in disbelief.
Gavin gave me a pitying look. “I’m sure this is all a big misunderstanding.”
“Let's go to the station,” Ephram suggested, waiting for Gavin to precede him out the door.
“Keep the tip,” Gavin told Charlotte, leaving the espresso behind.
Ephram paused just long enough to look at me before following Gavin out the door.
The bell chimed as they left, the sound too cheerful for what it marked.
Charlotte appeared at my side, concern written all over her face. “Are you okay?”
I nodded automatically. “Yes.”
She didn’t look convinced.
“I can close early,” she offered. “Or I can sit with you. Or I can pretend nothing happened and aggressively clean the espresso machine.”
I almost laughed.
“Thank you,” I said. “But I think I should go. I want to find out what happens when Gavin ‘explains’ everything.”
She squeezed my arm before I left. “Good luck.”
The walk to the station felt longer than necessary. Every step echoed with Gavin’s voice, his smug gaslighting replaying in my head no matter how firmly I tried to push his voice away.
Do you have a contract?
I had trusted him. Trusted the way he spoke, the way he made everything feel simple and manageable. Trusted that enthusiasm and intention were enough.
I had believed that he liked me, that he was my boyfriend and that we were dating. He had brought me out to dinner, we went dancing together, he even gave me flowers.
I introduced him as my boyfriend to my family, letting him in the door and naturally had wanted to help his business while helping our family business, like the incredibly naive girl that I was. I thought everything would work out.
I had been horribly wrong, knocking down my own confidence, and the trust my family had in me.
The situation made me feel just awful.
The station doors opened with a familiar hiss of automatic doors, the smell of coffee and disinfectant grounding me in a way the café hadn’t. I was here for a reason. I was here to find out just exactly what Gavin said and if the police would charge him for theft. I approached the desk, finding a middle aged police officer with the name tag Gail sipping coffee.
“Hi. My name is Lydia Bennet. Officer North just brought in a man who stole money from my family. I’m hoping I can get an update on what’s happening,” I quietly explained why I was there.
“I can’t comment on that, but I will let Officer North know that you came if you give me your details,” she offered.
“Could I sit in the lobby instead? I don’t mind waiting,” I asked hopefully.
