“Money?”
“Sheisa college kid, remember? Being a little over budget isn’t like a shocking turn of events.” But I could tell he was holding out on me. There was the tiniest hint of concern in his voice.
“I don’t understand. How much money?”
“Well … you need to stay calm.”
“Iamcalm, Aidan,” I said, biting down hard on the inside of my cheek.
“Two thousand dollars.”
“Two thousand dollars?” I was officially shouting. “What could possibly require that kind of money? Kyle is involved, obviously.”
“That’s not obvious at all. Cleo told us she broke that off, and I happen to believe our daughter. Once in a blue moon, you could actually give someone the benefit of the doubt, Kat.” Aidan’s tone was thick with self-righteousness. “That’s always been your problem—you assume the worst about people.”
That wasn’t even necessarily untrue, but I wasn’t the focus of this conversation. “Please tell me you asked Cleo what the money was for.”
“No.”
“Not even ‘Hey, what’s the two grand for, considering you used to be a drug runner and all?’”
“I don’t believe in shaming people for their mistakes, Kat. I don’t think that’s love.”
Aidan had a terrible way of nailing things even when he was completely in the wrong.
“I’m concerned, Aidan,” I said, keeping my tone calm. “I really think this could have to do with Kyle.”
“So what if it even does! You can’t control everything, Kat—the makeup, the clothes, who she’s dating. Fine, maybe she’s even making another mistake. She’s in college, and that’s what college kids do! Anyway, look at where strong-arming her has gotten you. Cleo is a human being. She has feelings.”
Aidan’s aim was impeccable.
“Yes,” I said, gritting my teeth. “I am aware our daughter has feelings. Please go back and tell her you have to know what she needs the money for. Ask her about Kyle specifically. I’m sure she’ll tell you the truth, Aidan. She trusts you.” Flattery—I knew Aidan’s soft spots, too.
He was quiet for a long beat. “Okay … I can do that,” he said at last. “But first there is something else I need to talk to you about … not related to Cleo.”
“And what’s that?”
“Financially … I’ve, um, run into something of a cash-flow issue with the film.”
Now it was my turn to be quiet. Aidan would help with Cleo …ifI gave him a loan? He hadn’t said that explicitly, of course. He didn’t need to.
“Hello? Kat, are you there?” Aidan asked. “I mean, I don’t think I’m being unreasonable asking for a favor, considering we were married for nearlytwenty-twoyears. And considering you’re the one insisting on breaking up our family. I’m just trying to survive.”
“Right,” I said quietly.
“Well, are you going to answer me? This is serious.”
I cleared my throat. No, he wasn’t going to get me to do what he wanted by making me feel like I was a bad person, not anymore. “Yes, Aidan,” I said. “I’ll answer you about the money for your film. As soon as you find out what the hell is going on with our daughter.”
Cleo
THIRTY MINUTES GONE
“Cleo!” Janine breaks into a huge grin when she opens her front door and sees me standing on her steps. “What are you doing here?”
In a cap-sleeved T-shirt and jeans, her thick dark hair up in a messy bun, she looks like a model. Janine is that mom—cool about everything. But not in an embarrassing way. She’s nice, too, always. And so understanding. The one time Annie got in real trouble when she cut school in eighth grade, Janine felt badforher. Back when we were still friends, I was always so jealous of Annie that she got to have Janine for her mom, while I was saddled with Cruella de Vil.
“Cleo, honey—what’s wrong?” Janine asks, stepping closer. “You look—Are you okay?”
