That was the story Cassie knew from her father. “Did Marie or Thomas tell you that themselves?” she asked.
“No. I was away at a spa week with your aunt Mary and a friend. It was an annual trip we took. When I got home, your father told me they had quit. We went through quite the trial trying to replace them, as I recall.” She narrowed her gaze. “Why all the questions?”
Cassie swallowed hard, then leaned forward on the table. “Well, Derek said they were fired. In fact, he told me that they were let go with no warning. They lost their health insurance and were given no references. Soon after, Thomas got very sick. By the time he saw a doctor, it was too late.”
“No. That’s not possible. We always gave our help a nice severance and letter of recommendation. And I know I would have done that for Marie. She worked for us for years. She took such good care of you.”
“Derek said Dad accused her of stealing family jewelry.”
“What? No. Marie wouldn’t steal,” her mother said emphatically.
“That’s how I feel.”
Her mother rubbed at her temple with one hand. “But that would mean your father lied to me.”
“And to me as well,” Cassie said. “He told me the same thing when I came home on a break and the Wests were gone.”
Marie studied her nails, deep in thought. “That’s a terrible accusation to make about your father.”
Except her mother never really viewed her father in a realistic light. She saw what she wanted to see, what made it easier for her to live with him.
Cassie decided to take this from another angle. “Let’s look at it this way. Why would Derek make up such a tale? I saw his pain. He lost his father and feels responsible because he didn’t have the money to help him then. He gives to a charity that pays for working people to take time off to be with their loved ones while they’re sick.” Cassie drew a deep breath. “I believe him. Which means I can’t … don’t believe Dad.”
She had no choice but to put the final piece of the puzzle in place. “Spencer saw Derek drop me off at the house one day. He was furious. He said Derek was beneath me and that his mother was a thief.”
Her mother met her gaze, eyes shimmering, taking Cassie off guard with the unexpected show of emotion. “I know your father doesn’t always play by the rules. He’s self-absorbed. He makes excuses for your brother. But what you’re saying would mean he deliberately destroyed people’s lives.”
Cassie reached across the table and grasped her mother’s hand. “I’m sorry.”
She looked at Cassie, sorrow in her eyes and expression. “In a marriage or relationship, you overlook a lot.”
Cassie refused to believe that. In her mother’s marriage, she chose to disregard many signs that would paint her father in a negative light.
Her choice.
Her life.
Not the way Cassie would opt to live her own.
She gathered her thoughts and her courage. “No, Mom. I think it’s the way you decided to live. So you could go on being married to Dad. I’m not judging you, but people were hurt. Very badly hurt.” She shook her head. “I don’t know that I can forgive that.”
Her mother dabbed at her eyes. “I hope you never have to make difficult choices,” she murmured. “I need to go.”
Cassie rose to her feet. She rushed over and pulled her mother into a hug. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of such difficult news.”
“Maybe there’s an explanation,” her mother predictably said.
“Maybe,” Cassie said.
But she highly doubted it.
* * *
Derek worked late thanks to a server crash that had them in a panic for most of the day. Kendall had met Oscar, they’d hit it off, and she’d started walking him the next day. He called her to give him an extra walk today, which she’d done with no problem. He was glad his pup was in good hands, which took the pressure off of him on what time he had to be home.
He was ready to shut down his computer and head home for the day when his cell rang. A glance at the screen told him it was Evan Mann, the private investigator he’d hired a few days ago.
“Hello?” Derek said.