by Gina LaManna
“It wouldn’t have worked,” Nick said. “It started on a lie.”
“Business is ruthless. If only I’d taught you a thing about family loyalty when you were younger—”
“Family loyalty?” That was the final straw. Nick snapped. His balled fist opened, his hands cut through the air like knives. “You want to talk about family loyalty?”
I shut the door; several nurses had already slowed their pace to listen from the hallway, though not one had dared to enter.
“I sold my house for you,” Nick said. “I’ve been living at the Clark castle. Nobody knows that—or at least, they didn’t until now.”
“Nick,” I said. “I thought—”
“You thought wrong.” Nick snapped. “I work stupidly late hours every damn day because I don’t have a place to go! Every penny I’ve made these last few years went toward my father’s care. When that ran out, I sold my house. I am a grown man, and I can’t barely support myself because of you.”
I stood back, my heart beating. Nick’s face grew red, his face hovering so close to his father’s I worried Nick might suffocate the old man.
“And now I am stealing from the closest thing I have to a friend. Family, really,” Nick spat. “You call yourself my father, but when mom left, you changed. You turned into a monster, and I didn’t recognize you anymore. You were smart, Dad. You could’ve gone out on your own, but you didn’t, and instead you ruined both your life and mine. And now I have nothing.”
“Nick,” I tried again to calm him, but he waved me off.
Deep breaths trembled through his body.
“I’m done,” he said. “I have nothing left to say. I have nothing left to give. I did this because somehow, some way, I thought you were still my father. But I’m just not sure that’s the case. I’m done stealing from my friend, my boss. My savings are drained. I have nothing.”
“I’m sure—” I started again, but I couldn’t finish. Nick’s expression was lost. His eyes blank.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” he said with hollow eyes. “I have nothing left to give.”
Mr. Flanagan watched his son walk out of the room without a word. When it was just the two of us, I searched for something, anything to say that would convey my disappointment. No words came to mind.
“Have a good life, Mr. Flanagan,” I said, turning toward the door. “I’d have thought laying on a hospital bed by yourself would make you think. Consider what really matters in this life, but I guess not.”
His breaths came in loud gasps.
“I lost someone close to me. My grandmother.” I blinked back tears, looking around the room. “I miss her a lot. More than everything.”
“How sweet.”
“Losing someone is hard,” I said, struggling to keep my voice even. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because if losing someone becomes easy, that means no one loved them enough to care. I hope someone misses you out there,” I said, shaking my head and moving toward the door, “because I don’t think it’s going to be Nick.”
“I’m not leaving yet, Miss Pink,” Mr. Flanagan said. “I will see you again.”
I shut the door behind me on the way out. “Nick,” I called down the hall. “Wait!”
A nurse waited outside. “How is he?”
I glared in her direction; I couldn’t help it. “Mr. Flanagan Sr. is fine, although he’s not the one I’m worried about.”
I caught up to Nick in the cafeteria. He held the same cup of coffee as before, faced the same wall as before.
“Hey,” I said, waving away Babs and Annalise as they moved to join us. “Later,” I mouthed.
My pair of girlfriends found seats along the far edge of the cafeteria, and if first impressions were to be believed, Babs was flirting with a hot doctor and Annalise was staring at the doughnuts, drool compiling at the corners of her lips.
I turned my attention to Nick. “I’m really sorry about what happened back there.”
Nick gave me a wry smile. “You don’t have to apologize.”
“Mr. Clark needed you for a meeting tonight,” I said. “That’s how he realized you were missing.”
“Graham Industries?”
I nodded. “He tried to call you. When there was no answer, he panicked. He trusts you implicitly.”
Nick pulled out his phone. The No Service words glowed. “Usually I make up an excuse when I come here, but tonight…I just came. He has nobody else, and he’d just gotten out of surgery.”
I reached out and squeezed Nick’s arm. “It was right of you to come here. He’s your father.”
Nick gave a sad bark of laughter. “If that’s what you want to call it.”
“Family ties are hard,” I said. “My mom shipped me to my grandma when I was five.”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “Really? You couldn’t have been a problem child.”
“My mom preferred not to grow up and could hardly support herself.” I shrugged. “I didn’t want to leave my home. Then one day I came back from school and my mother had my bags packed. She put me on a flight and told me to look for the big lady with the fancy hat when I got off.”
“You’re kidding me.”
“I packed my sunglasses and that’s it.”
“Why sunglasses?”
“Story for a different time,” I said with a smile.
“Easier to hide behind?” He sounded as if he knew all too well that his theory was dangerously close to the truth. “I imagine it can’t have been easy going through that as a child.”
“Something like that.” My smile faltered somewhat. “But that doesn’t matter now. It turned out to be the best thing that ever happened. I met Dotty Pink, my real grandmother. She hadn’t even known she had a granddaughter. Ever since that day we were inseparable.”
“She sounds like a great lady.”
“She was.”
“I’m not sure how that’s supposed to make me feel better, though.” Nick offered a grin. “My grandparents aren’t psychics with fancy hats, much as I’d like to imagine they are.”
“We can’t pick our families. But sometimes we make our own, I suppose, and you have Dane Clark. He’s sort of a strange duck, but he likes you. He trusts you. He shows it in weird ways, but... you’ve got to tell him about this. He’ll understand.”
“I can’t.” Nick shrugged. “He won’t understand.”
“Just tell him what you told me. You stole the money to pay for your father’s healthcare. Maybe they’ve had their differences in the past, but he’ll understand.”
“You don’t know Dane like I do. He doesn’t understand these emotions, these family ties. He doesn’t understand that sometimes we do crazy things for people who don’t deserve them.”
“He will,” I said. “He is a good man. Trust me.”
Nick shook his head. “I’m going to go away for a bit.”
“Running isn’t going to help anything!”
“I don’t know what else to do.”
“If you run, you’ll never know what Mr. Clark’s reaction might have been,” I said. “Come with me. We’ll go together, and I’ll vouch for you. I was here. I saw everything. Please.”
He sucked in a breath and held it there. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. Either way I’m out a job.”
“He’s not going to fire you!”
“Okay, Miss Pink.” Nick put his arm around my shoulder and gave a light squeeze. “Let’s see how well you know this boss of yours.”
“This is good,” Babs said. “You can pull over here.”
“This is the middle of the road,” Semi said. “I’m taking you back to the castle.”
“This is where we parked with our eggs,” Annalise said. “We’ll be fine to walk.”
Semi had waited in the car while the three of us had traipsed across the hospital. When we’d come out and explained the situation he nodded, and told Nick to follow us to the castle in his borrowed company car.
The caravan pulled to a halt a few blocks away fr
om the entrance to the gates.
“Call me, Lo,” Babs instructed as she jumped out of the stalled vehicle. “Anytime of the night.”
“I’m sure it’ll all work out fine,” I said with a smile. “But thank you.”
Annalise gave a shy wave to Semi while Nick peered curiously out of his car window.
“Everything okay?” he called on ahead.
“We parked here with our eggs,” Babs yelled back. “Long story! Lola will tell you sometime.”
When Semi pulled up to the driveway, I poked my head between the front seats. “Everything is going to be okay, right?”
“Sit back. Security.”
“Security, right.” I sat back as the windows lowered and the guards did their sweep.
Apparently, my face passed the checkpoint, and they gestured us through.
“If Nick and I walk in there and explain everything, it will work out, don’t you think?” I asked again. “I mean, sure Nick missed a meeting and did a few things he shouldn’t have, but Mr. Clark is a forgiving guy. He did help your brother, after all.”
“My brother never stole from Mr. Clark.”
“But it was for his dying father. Yes, it’s still wrong and he should have asked but, don’t you think that’s forgivable?”
Semi pushed his lips together. “I’m just the muscle. I’ll let Mr. Clark speak for himself.”
The large man pulled the car to a stop. I took a deep breath. “Are you sure you don’t want to come in?”
“You found him,” Semi said, staring straightforward. “I wouldn’t want to take all the credit.”
“You’re no help.” I climbed out of the car and slammed the door. “Just for that, I’m not giving you Annalise’s number.”
Nick parked in the driveway too. While Semi stayed in the car, Nick sulked quietly behind me. I knocked on the door and Mrs. Dulcet arrived shortly thereafter.
“Oh, you’re both here.” She pulled me into a quick hug. Then she stepped back and acknowledged Nick with a nod. “Mr. Clark is waiting for you in the living area.”
Nick took the lead since I could get lost in a fish tank, and this castle was big—I was certain I’d seen at least fifteen living areas. This particular living area, however boasted a tall, roaring fire and several couches. A table set with decorative candles stood near the back. From across the room, Dane caught my attention and held it.
Mr. Clark bid goodbye to two men wearing sharp suits. They returned the goodbye, and then left via the opposite door. Nick and I hovered near the couches until Dane joined us.
“Mr. Clark,” Nick said. “I’m sorry I missed the meeting this evening. Graham Industries?”
Dane nodded, moved to the opposite side of the coffee table, and gestured for us to sit.
I sat next to Nick and, when Dane didn’t respond further, I leaned over. “Tell him everything.”
Nick nodded, his voice hitching as he began. “I stole from you, Mr. Clark. I stole ten thousand dollars in petty cash from the Eagle Office in Warehouse 7.”
Dane didn’t so much as flinch. “What about the blueprints?”
“I had nothing to do with them.”
“Fine.” Mr. Clark nodded. “Pack your things.”
“What?” I flew to my feet. “You haven’t heard the full story. You can’t send him away. Nick is... he’s one of your best employees. He’s a friend—you said so yourself!”
“He just admitted to stealing money from me,” Mr. Clark said. “Isn’t that right, Nicolas?”
Nick bowed his head. “I did. And, I expected this to happen. It’s the only thing he can do.”
“No, Nick—”
“You did what you thought was best.” Nick rose to his feet, his eyes scanning my face with a deep sadness. “I made my choice, and I’ll take the consequences.”
“Just hear him out.” I put my hand on Nick’s shoulder and pleaded with Dane. “Listen, please.”
“Is there anything else I should know?” Dane looked solely at Nick. “If so, please explain.”
“He stole the money to pay for something important,” I pleaded. I might not have cleared Nick—or his father—from my suspect list, but since I didn’t have any firm evidence, I had to consider him innocent. “Please, listen.”
“Someone close to me is in the hospital,” Nick said. “They’ve been sick the past several years, and it’s taken all of my resources to pay for their care.”
“No insurance?”
“None.”
“Your house?”
“Sold.”
“The car?”
“Also sold. I have nothing left to my name except...” Nick hesitated. “Well, I had my job, but now that too is gone.”
“He wasn’t doing this to hurt you, Mr. Clark,” I said. “I know it’s none of my business, but please reconsider.”
“Fine,” Dane said. “I’ll send Nicolas away with his salary for a year. That should give him enough time to find a new career. Should your friend require additional medical assistance, I will help out financially.”
“But—”
“Who’s in the hospital, Nicolas?” Mr. Clark issued the question in a quiet, somber way.
Nick met Dane’s eyes. “My father.”
I stood between the two, my eyes flicking from one to the next. It might not be my place to comment, but I couldn’t sit here and say nothing. I’d seen the pain in Nick’s face when he admitted to stealing from his employer and friend. I’d seen the lacerations of hurt caused by Mr. Flanagan Sr.’s words to his son. I’d seen it all, and still, I felt helpless.
“I should be leaving,” Nick said. He leaned in, kissed me on the cheek. “Thank you for everything, Pink. I knew I liked you.”
He offered me a smile that I couldn’t return. Then he reached out and shook Mr. Clark’s hand. A minute later the front door closed, and Nick was gone.
“I can’t believe you did that.” I rounded on Mr. Clark. “After all Nick has been through.”
“Mrs. Dulcet was correct,” Dane said, rising to his feet. “His father betrayed me. I trusted Nick, and then he steals from me.”
“This isn’t black and white,” I said. “This is something entirely different.”
“Explain.”
“It was for his dad. His father was dying. Lying in the hospital with tubes coming out of everywhere.”
“Why didn’t he ask me for money?”
“He wasn’t thinking straight! He knew the two of you had a rocky past, and he probably felt uncomfortable asking you to save the life of a man who’d once tried to ruin yours.”
“You seem upset.”
“I am upset!” I reached out, my hands on his chest, pushing him back until he collapsed onto the couch. I stood over him. “Give Nick another chance, I’m begging you.”
“Why do you care so much? You’ll only be here until the end of your contract.”
“Of course,” I said, backing off, my voice shaky. “This is only about a contract.”
“What did I say?”
“You’re never going to change, are you?” I asked, falling to the open seat next to him on the couch. My eyes were begging him to prove me wrong. “It’s black and white, legal or not. What about people? Emotions? Feelings? What about bending the rules when things get complicated?”
“Life doesn’t have to be complicated. I do not like thieves working for me, so I fired Nicolas. That is very, very simple.”
“You’re over-simplifying things,” I said. “He wasn’t doing it to spite you or hurt you or anything malicious. He just wanted to help his father.”
“Why does that matter?”
“I don’t know why I’m still talking. You’re not listening.”
“Of course I am.”
“No, you don’t get it, do you, Mr. Clark?” I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I’m going to have to void my contract with you, or whatever you call it.”
“Void your contract?”
“Tear it up, rip it to shreds. I’m sor
ry. This isn’t working for me.”
“Lola, please. I need your help.”
“Cold-hearted, ruthless, difficult,” I said. “Those are the words you warned me about.”
A shadow crossed Mr. Clark’s face. “That’s accurate.”
“I don’t think that’s who you are in here.” I raised a hand, tapped my finger to his chest. I was close enough to smell the freshness of his aftershave, the sharp minty-ness of his toothpaste. “You’re blocking everything that’s complicated, and you’re keeping it all locked up in here, but that’s not how to live.”
“Who are you to tell me how to live?”
“I’m nobody.” I shrugged and backed away. “That’s the problem.”
“Lola, don’t go.”
“I’m sorry.”
I turned and strode out of the room, closing the door behind me. I didn’t stop to think about how I’d get home without a car, and when Mrs. Dulcet called after me, I waved goodbye and muttered a thank you for everything.
When I climbed into the back of Semi’s car, he didn’t look surprised by my tear-streaked face.
“Take me home,” I said. “My work here is done.”
Waking up in my own bed the next morning was surprisingly anticlimactic. After a night away, I figured the thing I’d want most was my own bed, my own home, my own clothes. Instead, I woke up feeling empty, like I’d forgotten something in Castlewood.
My sanity, I thought, climbing out of bed, and Dotty’s notebook. I’d grown used to lugging that thing everywhere with me. Besides that, it was crazy to think I missed anything about that place. Except for the food. They had fantastic food.
I dressed in my own clothes—also anticlimactic. There was something exciting about not knowing the options in my closet. Then I made my way downstairs where, unfortunately, no breakfast was prepared for me. Instead, I grabbed a Pop-Tart and made my way out of the house.
I didn’t have any particular plan in mind—I had no place to go, no money to spend, and no job to do. I’d helped Dotty run the Psychic in Pink before she’d passed away, and now that she was gone, I didn’t have much in the way of work. The construction would have to wait until I could find the money elsewhere.
