Chapter 10 #2
“Because I was stuck out in Wyoming on my previous job past when I thought I’d be finished, and I was going to miss orientation. So I asked her to fill in for me.”
Heather narrowed her eyes. “And you were, what? Going to just swap out after the fact without telling anybody?”
“That was the original plan, yes. I was supposed to be back to take all the certification tests myself, but I ran into travel difficulties.”
Michael frowned. “And you’re coming clean now, why?”
Taryn hesitated only a moment before lifting her chin.
“Because it’s the right thing to do. I should never have asked Sarah to step in for me.
I should’ve come to you directly when the problem arose, even if it meant losing the job.
And I realize I’m probably losing it anyway, but at least my conscience will be clear. ”
A part of Sarah wanted to cheer that her sister was taking responsibility.
It was the adult thing to do. But did she have to do it like this?
Because the likelihood that Sarah would be welcome here ever again was virtually nil.
When Michael and Heather turned matching expressions of betrayal on her, Sarah’s last shred of hope that she might be able to ask them for a job for herself died a swift death.
She hunched her shoulders. “I’m sorry for the deception. I was just trying to do her a favor.”
Heather pinched the bridge of her nose. “I should have had more coffee this morning.”
“You and me both,” Sarah muttered. No one said anything for several moments, and abruptly she wanted out.
Away from this situation. From her sister.
Anywhere she could actually breathe through the panic that was trying to claw its way out of her chest. “Unless there’s anything else?
” She started toward the door. “I understand you’re upset and would like me gone.
My bag is already packed. I’ll get off the premises immediately. ”
If she was lucky, maybe she’d get a chance to say goodbye to Beckett.
Before she could cross the room, a brisk knock sounded, and the door swung open without invitation. Beckett barged in. “Don’t make any rash decisions.”
Presumably he was speaking to the Tullys, but his eyes zeroed straight in on her. She read so much in that gaze. Temper. Concern. Reassurance that she wasn’t in this alone.
“Yes, Beck, please join the discussion,” Michael said drily.
“Sorry. But I have something to say.”
The determined glint in his eyes had Sarah stepping toward him. “Beckett, don’t.”
The last thing she wanted was him going to bat for her and losing his job.
He just shot her an I’ve got this wave. “I know this is a weird situation, but I didn’t want y’all tossing anybody out without listening. This isn’t on Sarah.”
Heather went brows up. “Wait, you knew she wasn’t Taryn?”
“I figured it out pretty fast.”
“And you chose not to turn her in,” Michael confirmed.
“I did.” Beckett’s jaw firmed, his shoulders squaring. “You’re the one who kept spouting off about Pinecone Lodge.”
Huh?
Whatever that was about clearly meant something to the Tullys. Michael swore and Heather straightened, coming to very focused attention.
“Please don’t take anything out on Beckett,” Sarah insisted. “None of this was his idea.”
That chiseled jaw turned to granite. Stubborn through and through. “Training you was my idea. And I stand by it. You can do the job. You just proved that.”
“By rights we should fire the lot of you,” Michael said. “This whole thing could have been an insurance nightmare.”
“Nobody got hurt,” Beckett insisted. “And Sarah passed all the certifications.”
“Not the point. The job wasn’t hers.”
“Michael,” Heather chided. “We can’t afford to lose any senior staff. Not at this point. Beckett, you’re not going anywhere.”
Something in Sarah unclenched. At least he still had his job. That was so much more than she’d feared. But where did that leave the rest of them?
“As for Taryn—the real one—” Heather shifted her gaze and shook her head. “I wish you’d come to us before. We might have been able to come to an agreement, but under the circumstances, as you weren’t here for any of the training or the certification tests, we can’t hire you.”
Sarah had known that was coming and still the news felt like a blow. Maybe because of the sheer inevitability finally collapsing on her head.
Taryn’s throat worked, but she merely nodded. “Understood.”
“What about Sarah?” Beckett demanded.
“What about her? She’s not in any kind of trouble.” Heather waved a hand in her direction. “What would we charge her with? Conspiracy to do a good job? She aced everything.”
“Of course, she did.” Taryn softened the remark with a grin that Sarah couldn’t return.
Heather sat back against the desk. “Look, we don’t appreciate the lie, but you did an amazing job while you were here. So don’t feel like you have to slink off like some kind of criminal.”
That was something, at least. Swallowing hard against the knot in her throat, Sarah murmured, “Thank you.”
“What is it you actually do?” Michael asked.
“I’m in graduate school at Columbia. Neuropsychology.” Somehow, making that announcement didn’t bring her the sense of achievement it always had before.
“Huh.” Whatever he’d expected, that clearly wasn’t it. “Well, all right then.”
Beckett’s hand snaked out to tangle with hers, and it took everything she had not to turn into him and bury her face against his chest.
Michael shot a measured look at their joined hands. “I’m guessing you two have some things to talk about before you go.”
“Do you need me tonight?” Beckett asked.
Heather’s face softened. “We’ll manage. But you’ll be on deck in the morning.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
“I guess you’re all dismissed,” Michael announced. “We need to get back to the others.”
“Yes, sir.” Taryn turned back. “I apologize again for… well, all of this.”
Sarah didn’t stick around to see what reaction either of the Tullys had to this assertion. All of it was too little, too late. She strode out of the office, Beckett tight on her heels.
“Sarah, wait up.”
Taryn’s voice followed her down the hall. The last thing Sarah wanted was to talk with her twin about any of this. Not when she was feeling so raw.
“Look, I know you’re mad—”
Sarah spun, lifting the hand not clasped in Beckett’s. “No. You’re on my shit list right now. I’m not spending what little time I have left here arguing or listening to your excuses.”
Stunned pain flashed across Taryn’s face. “But Sarah—”
“I’m done, T.” With so much more than her sister could know. “Let’s go, Beckett.”