Chapter 5
DANI
I was worn the fuck out by the time I pulled into my parents’ driveway after my shift at the Tavern.
My face hurt from fake smiles, but our patrons didn’t deserve a shitty mood from me when they had their own lives to muddle through.
The back of my head thumped against the headrest, and I fortified myself for the conversation ahead with my parents.
After Beau left for work, I slept fitfully for a few hours before I gave up. Vanessa called while I poured my third cup of coffee. She saw my messages and skimmed the emails, and we cried together.
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you sooner,” I sobbed.
“No, I’m sorry I was right about him,” she cried.
It was cathartic, but it didn’t solve anything. Obviously, my plan to stay on as Beau’s roommate was out. Today, though, I had a client meeting to prepare for, a project update to give, and another bartending shift to survive.
After calling rental properties once Vanessa left for work, I faced the facts. I couldn’t swing rent on my own. Unfortunately, there were no lofts, one-bedroom apartments, or single rooms in my budget, even if I discounted security deposit and all the up-front rent I’d need.
I messaged my parents to give them a head’s up, but I wasn’t ready to bare all.
Me: Miss Priss and I will join you for a few days. I’ve got to work tonight, but I’ll drop her off before I go in.
My stay would be longer if nothing else came up soon, but I didn’t want to shock my parents by showing up with my cat and a suitcase. Today was not the day to walk in on them getting frisky on the couch.
Then I put my drama aside for a few hours and focused on my graphic design clients. It was a relief to remind myself I was capable and competent.
By the time Beau was expected home, I’d already left but only took the necessities. I wasn’t ready for him to know I was moving out. Not when my name was still on all the bills. I was pretty sure I needed a lawyer for that conversation.
Before I went to work, I dropped Miss Priss off at my parents’ house, where they cooed over her. They were always delighted to host their cat granddaughter.
“Who’s the cutest kitty in the world? You are, Miss Priss, you are. Come sit with Grandpa, and tell me all about your day.”
Miss Priss purred with contentment as my dad settled her on his lap. He was the only exception to the rule as far as Miss Priss and men were concerned. Right now, I echoed her sentiment.
“We’re so glad you’ll be staying for a few days,” my mom said. “I changed the sheets on your bed, and I’ll get some of those diet sodas you like when I’m at the store today.”
They knew from my demeanor something happened, but they didn’t push.
For some reason, that made me want to cry.
I’d also never been so grateful to have spare clothing at my parent’s place.
If my dad had a rough night, I came over to help him with extra physical therapy and stayed overnight to make things easier.
Later, I texted Beau to say my dad had a fall and needed my help, and I’d be staying there for a few days. He replied with a thumb’s up without asking if my dad was okay. That made me almost as angry as his betrayals and theft.
I bought myself a few days to come up with a plan to limit the fallout from Beau’s financial malfeasance. Numb, I made it through my shift somehow.
While I was a non-confrontational person, I had no choice. Not only had Beau stolen from me, I wasn’t on the lease, so I had no rental history if I found a place in my budget.
All the money I gave him for rent, for utilities, for the tiniest corner of his house, was all based on deceptions. The more I worked, the more he needed.
And the pièce de résistance? He was cheating on me. All those times he accused me, and he was the cheater. Not only did he have a girlfriend in town, he spent hundreds of dollars a month on e-girls. He was paying multiple women for virtual sex.
I had photos of everything on my phone. His phone was logged in to both his chat and his email, so I got everything without leaving a trail. The receipts. The bills. The emails where he switched the utilities over to my name but kept us both on the billing address.
He thought so little of me, he barely tried to to hide his perfidy, which was almost as painful as the lies.
My parents gave me space earlier, but now that I was off work, it was time to come clean. Hiding in my car in the dark wasn’t going to fix things.
With one last deep breath, I climbed out, feeling older than thirty-three. I plodded to the front door, which swung open as soon as I came near. Without a word, my mom swept me into her arms and ushered me inside.
“Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out,” she said.
She led me to the couch by my dad’s chair and sat next to me.
“You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want to.” Mom handed me a mug of my favorite mint green tea. “We’ll love and support you, whatever you need. But if you want to talk about it, we’re here for you.”
“If I need to make that no-good boyfriend disappear, I can,” my dad added.
It was so out of character, I barked a surprised laugh.
“I thought you liked Beau,” I said.
“Not if he’s responsible for your sadness.”
I explained the situation, and they were as horrified as I was.
“I can’t wrap my head around it,” my mom repeated. “He seemed like such a nice young man..”
“Vanessa didn’t like him, but she was shocked, too.”
“We’d love to have you move back home,” my dad reminded me.
“I appreciate it.” I gave him a sad smile. “Before everything went sideways, I planned to talk to Beau about breaking up but staying on as roommates. That’s obviously not an option anymore. I hate to intrude—“
“This will always be your home.”
“You’re not an intrusion.”
”—but I don’t have any choice. The only people who need a roommate seem sketchy, and I can’t afford to live on my own. I’m such a failure.”
My eyes burned with unshed tears, and my throat clogged.
“You’re the farthest thing from a failure,” my mom said with a fierceness she seldom displayed. “When we needed you, you dropped everything! Because of you, your dad is walking and laughing again.”
My mom’s eyes flashed, and she continued.
“You found us a good lawyer, and you paid for it. Because of you, we kept the house and were able to pay the medical bills. You helped me find a job and gave me the confidence to apply after being a homemaker for twenty years. You did that. He’s the failure, not you.”
The last of my control fled, and I burst into the tears I held at bay. I sobbed in my parents’ arms as the weight of Beau’s betrayal finally hit home. My tears soaked their clothing, but they let me cry until I was finally empty.
My mom drew my head into her lap, and she stroked my hair the way she did when I was a kid. Tension flowed out of my body as she worked her mom magic. Miss Priss cuddled up with me as if she sensed I needed her compassion, too.
We sat in comfortable silence as my parents poured their love into me. I didn’t want to move back home, but I appreciated their unconditional support. I shuddered to think what I’d do if my only option was to accept Beau’s lies.
“Today is going to be a good day,” I told Miss Priss as I got dressed.
I was tired from all the long hours, but I had no time for a nap today. There were too many appointments on my calendar. First up was dad’s physical therapy.
He groused and complained, but it made such a difference in his life. I hated that he needed it, but I was grateful, too. Whenever I thought about him in that hospital bed right after his accident, I teared up.
The year following his accident was terrible, but he’s progressed so much since then. He’d never again be the tough old cowboy sitting a horse. But the doctors also said he wouldn’t walk again, and he proved them wrong. Maybe he’d surprise us all and mount up again someday.
While he worked with his PT, I took out the romance novel for book club. I’d been too stressed to relax last night, and I needed to get more reading done before next week. The plot was heating up when my phone buzzed.
It was one of my web design clients, Hector Ramirez. I took my things into the hall to avoid disturbing the others in the waiting room.
“Mr. Ramirez, how can I help you today?” I asked cheerfully.
“My niece showed me this website over the weekend, and I really like the layout. I wonder if it would be possible to incorporate some of that into our site.”
I groaned internally but assured him I’d be happy to check it out.
In minutes, I was navigating to the site, and I admired the sleek design.
We talked for twenty minutes about some changes that would better fit his customer base, and I promised to send him a mock-up and revised estimate as soon as possible.
“You’re such a dear,” Mr. Ramirez said. “We’re commemorating our company’s thirtieth anniversary in a few months, and you’re invited to celebrate with us. I’ll send you an email with the details.”
“I’d be honored to join you,” I said with a confidence I didn’t feel.
I didn’t even know where I’d be living in a few months, or if I’d be arrested for non-payment of bills. Was that a thing? If you didn’t pay your bills because your almost-ex-boyfriend lied to you about paying them and stole your money instead, could you go to jail?
I really needed to talk to a lawyer.
After the call ended, I took detailed notes of our conversation. As tired as I was, I didn’t want to forget anything.
As frustrating as it could be when clients changed their minds mid-project, I loved displaying the skills I used at the web design firm where I worked before my dad’s injury.
After I took Dad back home and made a snack, I worked on the updates for Mr. Ramirez. Humming with joy, I plugged away for a few hours before I sent him a mock-up and revised estimate.
I finally called Shayla Vanse, the lawyer my buddy Neil recommended. She’s a former big-shot from the city who moved to Sierra Rose Ridge after a public breakup. I hoped she wouldn’t take me to the cleaners, but I’d rather give my money to another wronged woman than Beau.