“There’s no way you killed him. I don’t believe that, and I never will. You don’t have it in you to be a killer, Connor. I’d stake my entire life savings on that fact.”
“Well, I wish you were in charge of the investigation then because the cops are sure it’s me. They told me I need to get a lawyer. I can’t afford that. Between my house, my cars, and my kids’ extracurriculars, I barely have enough to put food on the table. Jamie keeps telling me that it’s all going to pay offwhen the girls get into a college they want on a free ride for gymnastics, and all I can say is I hope to God that happens because if I have to pay for both of them to go to school after how much it cost to keep them in all the activities they’ve required all these years, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
My words begin to sound frantic as I explain how downright poor I am, and even though I should be embarrassed, I’m not. Being the only one who works in my family has become an albatross around my neck. I’m not ashamed to admit it or that I can’t pay for a lawyer, even if I need one.
Martin tries to calm me down with some kind words, but the reality is that’s my life. I make good money, and it goes out as fast as it comes in. Trying to explain that to my wife and kids is like talking to a brick wall. They only see the things they need and want. The truth that money only goes so far isn’t of any interest to them.
“Take it easy. It’s all going to be okay. You’re going to be fine. The police are going to pull their heads out of their asses and figure out the truth of what happened to Bryan. Just take a deep breath. Try to keep some perspective. I know it’s hard, but you’re going to be okay. You have a lovely wife and two beautiful girls. Just focus on taking care of them. As for work and the people here, I’m going to have a conversation with the two or three I think are the ringleaders causing you trouble. You shouldn’t have to dread coming to work. No innocent man should. We’re a family here. It’s time your coworkers remember that.”
What I dread is the idea of my boss getting involved at all. Shaking my head, I say, “No, Martin. Please don’t. That will only make things worse. People are going to believe what they believe. We can’t change that. I had hoped they’d know better because they know the kind of person I am, but they’re free to think what they want. I know I’m innocent, and I’m glad you think I am too. That’s enough for now.”
My boss’s expression fills with concern. “Are you sure? I don’t want to see you become some office punching bag. It’s not right, and it makes my job harder, to be honest. I’d like to say something to make sure they remember to act professionally. No one is saying they need to throw you a party, but at the very least, I think they need to be reminded that no matter what happens, civility is the name of the game at this company.”
I can see there’s no way I’m going to talk him out of having some big group meeting with the people in this office, so I merely smile and pray to God it won’t turn into some terrible thing that causes even more resentment toward me. I can’t afford to lose this job. I just can’t.
“Okay. Thanks, Martin. Break time is almost over, so I think I’m going to go back to my desk and see if I can get some work done. Our products don’t sell themselves, right?”
I punctuate my question with a smile that nearly kills me, but I force it anyway. He’s the only person in my corner right now, so I need to keep him happy.
As I stand to leave, he joins me and walks me to the door. Patting me on the shoulder, he says, “You’re a good person, Connor. I know this is going to work out for the best. The truth will prevail. Don’t worry. Karma always does her job.”
I head back to my desk with that last sentence of his ringing in my ears.Karma always does her job.Is that really true?
And if so, is that what’s happening to me now?
CHAPTER TEN
Jamie
Cassandra and Daniellewhisper between themselves in the back seat, and I smile as I remember being a young teenage girl with a crush on some boy. I’m glad my girls have one another. I didn’t have a sister, but I did have a friend named Julie back then. We told each another everything, especially when it came to boys. Neither one of us were allowed to date until we turned sixteen, but I can’t count the number of nights she slept over at my house or I slept over at hers and we stayed up all night gossiping about all the boys we liked.
My daughters aren’t anywhere close to the age when they’ll be able to date, but I’ve caught them talking about some boy in Cassandra’s class one of them likes. Connor and I have never spoken about it, but I think maybe we should let the girls date earlier than my parents let me. I’m not as worried about everything like my mother was, and I definitely trust the girls more than my parents trusted me.
Maybe it’s time to talk to my husband about them dating.
I look up at the rearview mirror and see they look upset. Oh, I remember that too. The tears and recriminations over some boy who didn’t feel the same way as I did. There’s no pain for a young girl like unrequited love. My mother never wanted to talk about that with me, but I’m a different kind of mom.
“Everything okay with you two?” I ask as casually as I can while I continue to drive them to practice.
I glance up at the rearview mirror again, and this time I see tears in Danielle’s eyes. She’s always been the more sensitive of my girls, so I’m not surprised.
“What’s wrong, honey?” I ask as Cassandra angrily grumbles something.
My younger child simply shakes her head before looking down at her legs, so my older child speaks up. “Mom, somebody said something to Danielle and me in school. It wasn’t nice.”
Much tougher, even as a younger child, Cassandra can always be relied on to defend her sister. I’m glad she’s that way. She sees injustice in the world and never fails to speak up. I hope she knows how proud I am of her for that.
“I bet you told them isn’t wasn’t nice, didn’t you?” I ask her with a smile.
But neither of my daughters are smiling back at me.
Cassandra leans forward so she can poke her head between the two front seats. “Mom, it was bad. Danielle spent her whole lunch hiding out in the bathroom.”
I turn my head and see her expression is deadly serious. What in the world could have happened at school today?
Thankfully, my girls are usually happy to tell me all about their days, so I absolutely feel I can ask. “Well, what did this person say to upset your sister so much?”
In a low voice, Cassandra says, “They said that Daddy killed someone, and he’s a murderer.”
