Love Next Door (Lakeside 1)

“How can you even ask that? Of course I didn’t take it!” My voice rises, right along with my incredulity.

“I’m sorry, Van, but your signature is on all the documents, and you’re one of the few people with access to the accounts.”

“Well, I didn’t steal three fucking million dollars from my own mother’s memorial fund!”

“Okay. I trust that you’re being honest.” I can hear my dad’s pen tapping on the desk.

“Should I come back to Chicago?”

“No, no. I think it’s probably better you stay put for now. I’m going to do what I can, but you don’t want to be in Chicago if the media gets wind of this.”

“Shit. Do you think that’s likely to happen?”

“I’d like to say no, but I can’t be sure, and I’d rather you be out of the line of fire for now. We’ll get to the bottom of this. I promise.”

My phone buzzes with another call. This time it’s my boss. “Can I call you back, Dad? That’s my work calling.”

“Of course. I’ll call my lawyer.”

I end the call with him and answer the one from my boss, dread settling in my stomach, especially with him calling me on a Saturday. I’m right to be worried. Because word has gotten out that I’ve apparently stolen three million dollars. And now, in addition to being accused of theft, I’m also no longer employed, since all the accounts I was working on have asked I be removed from their projects.

They give me a two-month severance package.

I toss my phone on the cushion beside me and press the heels of my hands against my eyes. “What the fuck is happening, Grammy Bee?”

The wind chimes on the front porch tinkle loudly.

“Sorry ’bout my language, but this is kinda messed up,” I mutter.

My phone rings for the third time in the past hour. I reluctantly glance at the screen. It’s my sister, Teagan. Mood-wise, I’m not in the best form, but I’m guessing that she’s probably heard the news, and now she’s going to be on the receiving end of the backlash. “Hey, Teag.”

“Have you talked to Dad?”

“Yeah. Just a few minutes ago.”

“I know it wasn’t you. I don’t care what proof they think they have. There’s no way you’d steal from Mom’s foundation.”

Her conviction makes me feel the tiniest bit better. But then I remember I’m also freshly unemployed, to go along with my new status of thief. “Dad is going to get his lawyer to look into it.”

“I know. I just talked to him. Is there anything I can do to help? Do you want me to come up to Pearl Lake? I could do that. If you need me to.”

I adore my sister. She’s my favorite sibling and one of the kindest, most giving people I know. But I don’t know if her coming up here on the heels of this scandal would be best. “I appreciate it, but I don’t honestly know what I need right now. Other than to find out what happened. There has to be some kind of mistake with the paperwork or signatures or something.” I need more details. Like how $3 million goes missing without any red flags being raised in the process.

“I’m sure that’s what it is, Donny. We’ll get to the bottom of it.” I cringe at the horrible nickname she can’t seem to give up, and then a buzz comes through the line. “Crap. That’s Troy. I bet he’s seen the freaking media coverage on this and wants to know what’s going on.”

Troy is my sister’s boyfriend. I’m not his biggest fan, but my sister loves him, so I tolerate him. “Wait. What media coverage?”

“Uh . . . it’s really nothing. You know how they like to blow everything out of proportion.”

“This has already made the news?” I find the remote for the TV and turn it on. Grammy Bee didn’t like to spend money on unnecessary things, but she did invest in cable and high-speed internet because she loved being able to FaceTime with me.

“Just the local stations.”

I’ve never been the subject of any kind of drama. Until now. Luckily I don’t find anything on the TV here and turn the TV off again. “Shit, Teag. This is bad.”

“It’ll be okay.” The reassurance sounds empty.

“I’m not sure about that. I just got fired before you called.”

“No. How? Why?”

I’m assuming the questions are mostly rhetorical. “Apparently my former employer doesn’t love it when people are accused of stealing millions from charity.”

“I’m so sorry, Donny. We’ll figure it out. Whoever did this won’t get away with it.”

I sincerely appreciate her vote of confidence. Especially since my father immediately believed it was true. She and I have always been close, she being only two years younger than me. We’re like minded, so we’ve always confided in one another.

“Three million dollars doesn’t grow legs and walk away,” she continues. “We will track that money down, and we’ll get your name cleared and your job back.” I tune back in as my sister finishes her we’re-going-to-fix-this spiel.