“Not until after he died. I found the transfers when I was going through his accounts.” Sarah set the phone down. “I wasfurious at first. Then I understood. Billy was protecting me. He knew what it would do to my career if the truth came out. A meth addict’s daughter running hotels?”
“But you’re not responsible for what your parents did.”
“It doesn’t matter. People judge. I’m already fighting the assumption that I slept my way to the top. Add in my real background?” Sarah shook her head. “And now with the lawsuit?”
Lizzie stood and came around the desk. She pulled Sarah to her feet and wrapped her arms around her.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
Sarah let herself be held. Let herself cry against Lizzie’s shoulder for the first time since Billy’s funeral.
‘What happened outside?” Lizzie whispered.
“My mom wants money. As always. She’s making threats about telling the world who I really am.”
“That’s blackmail.”
“It’s leverage. And she knows how to use it.” Sarah pulled back and wiped her face. “I can’t let her destroy everything. Not after how hard I’ve worked.”
“What are you going to do?”
Sarah shrugged and turned in her arms. “I suppose I’ll have to pay her off. Hope she doesn’t come back.”
“And if she does?”
A bitter laugh escaped her. “Pay her more. I suppose that will have to be my life for now. Maybe once the lawsuit is over, Ican come out with everything. Being gay, being the daughter of addicts and so on. But until then? I have to do what I have to do.”
Sarah pulled back and wiped her face. “I’m sorry I lied to you. I just—I’ve been lying for so long that I don’t know how to stop.”
“Hey.” Lizzie cupped Sarah’s face. “I understand why you did it.”
“You do?”
“You were protecting yourself.” Lizzie’s thumb brushed away a tear on Sarah’s cheek. “I’m not going anywhere. Whatever happens, I’m here.”
Sarah went very still. “You mean that?”
“I love you. All of you. Even the parts you’ve been hiding.”
They wrapped their arms around each other and stood, and for the first time in a long time, Sarah felt as though she was truly understood, free, and safe.
Chapter 24
Lizzie
Three days had passed since Sarah’s mother showed up. Fortunately, there had been little fallout. Derek had made some snide comment about family drama in the lobby, but Sarah shut him down with one look and he hadn’t brought it up again. Peter Lassiter had sent her an email, complaining about uncouth behaviour. Stavros hadn’t chimed in, but he was away in New York for a few days.
The morning had that thick quality Key West mornings sometimes had. Already hot before nine, the ceiling fans working overtime. Lizzie had stopped fighting the humidity weeks ago.
She was halfway through her second cup of coffee when Chrisla called her to the front desk.
“Cynthia checked out early.”
Lizzie looked up. “How early?”
“Two days before she was supposed to leave.” Chrisla reached under the desk and produced an envelope. “Left this for you.”
Lizzie’s name was written across the front in large, looping letters. She opened it.
