"You just want a job back for Lenore? Am I correct?" Dad asks Raine.
"She won't need a job. She will be taken care of," Raine argues.
Dad's eyes widen with sin, and I don't like the look on his face. I want to leave this house and catch my breath that escaped me so many minutes ago. "I'm afraid that isn't necessary, Mr. Carson." Raine's lips fall into a grimace that breaks my heart into a million pieces.Please, no. He said she was like a mother to him."She passed away last year." Dad doesn't blink as he says this. It's as if he's enjoying the pain that this must be causing Raine. "Don't worry, we allowed her to be buried in the local cemetery. In Sutter." I can hear Raine's breaths growing louder, the redness filling his face is a cause for concern, and I don't know why I'm the only one who is seeing that he should not be pushed even an inch further. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Mr. Carson."
"What did she die of?" Raine asks through gritted teeth.
Dad looks down with only a hint of remorse. "From what I heard, she was sick and couldn’t afford medical care."
Raine runs his fingers through his thick hair and rushes out the door. I need to follow him, but I'm not letting this go that easily. "This isn't over, Dad. You are giving him the money."
"Again, Haven, how could you do this to your own father?" Dad replies. “You don’t even know what you’re getting yourself into right now. I don’t care how old you are, sweetheart, but you should always know I do what’s best for my family. Please, try to understand that as you tread down this rocky terrain.” I have had trouble believing many of the things he said to me over the years, but this, it’s pure bull.
"How could a father do this to a fatherless child? Do you even have a heart?" I ask. "You have a week to get him the money, or I’m taking this public with the proof Raine and I have." Knowing neither of us truly have evidence, I'm testing my own poker face with the assisting fuel of anger raging through my body.
I turn to Mom, refusing to let her off the hook. "You are just as bad as he is. You knew all of this and went along with it." She looks sick, maybe considering the thought of going to prison—what that would do to her perfect little appearance. "You know, we don't choose who we love, and I can appreciate that, even at twenty-three, but what I can't understand is…defending and standing behind criminal behavior for love. Wow. Congratulations to you both; you chose money over everything else. You really deserve each other.” I laugh sardonically, finally understanding the reality of their marriage. “Hasn't anyone ever told you, money doesn't buy happiness or love? It only causes problems. Gosh, it was always just a matter of time before this all caught up with you both."
