The Moment of Truth

“What about siblings?”

“I don’t have any. How about you?”

“Two half-sisters. Both younger.”

“Did you know your biological father?”

“Nope. Daniel’s name is on my birth certificate.”

“He adopted you.”

She paused, and then said, “His name was always there. He and Mom were married by the time I was born and he assumed responsibility for me from the start.”

Josh felt as if he was doing research on a deal, and the pieces were all coming together.

“And you feel like you owe him something for that.”

“Why do you say that?” Her response was razor sharp.

“Because you were engaged to his best friend’s son and you didn’t seem happy about that.”

Her puppy stood, circled and half lay, half fell back down, tucking her head into her paws and going back to sleep. L.G. laid down his head, facing her.

“Keith was a spoiled ass,” Dana said.

The comment hit home.

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say anything bad about anyone before.”

“I try to see the best in people.”

“But you couldn’t find it in him?”

“I tried. His father owns a string of car dealerships. Keith grew up thinking he was God’s gift to the world. I don’t think his parents ever said no to him.”

He could relate.

“And he decided he wanted you.”

“Not exactly. Keith spent his high school and college years partying and having fun. He’d been all over the world but never worked a day in his life. He was into drugs and drinking and gambling, and got into debt one too many times. I, on the other hand, missed college to go to work in the family business. I was managing the three retail stores and they were turning a profit.”

He wasn’t surprised to hear that she had a good head for business. The woman excelled at everything.

And Keith could have been any number of Josh’s buddies. Other than the gambling and not-working part, he could have been Josh.

“I was twenty-three, living by myself, and Daniel and Keith’s dad figured that I was just what Keith needed. His father told him he’d pay off his debt, but only if he settled down, married me and went to work—either for Daniel, or at the car dealerships. They wanted him where they could keep an eye on him.”

“And he agreed.”

“What choice did he have?”

But she’d agreed, too.

Dana’s expression changed and grew pensive. She shuddered.

Tapping her sneaker with the tip of his shoe, he said, “You didn’t marry him.”

“I almost did. But then, out of the blue, I got a letter in the mail, telling me that I’d been chosen to receive a full scholarship, living expenses included, to Montford University.”

“Out of the blue? You’d said you were on scholarship, but I assumed... You mean you weren’t applying to colleges?”

“I knew before I graduated high school that there wouldn’t be money for me to go to college. My sisters were both going, and while the economy had hit us hard, we were still showing enough profit at the stores to prevent me from qualifying for financial aid.”

“Your sisters are older than you?”

“No, younger.”

But they got to go to college over her. Anger churned in Josh. Surprising him. He’d never been one to get worked up about much of anything.

“Scholarships don’t just show up on people’s doorsteps,” he said.

“I’m pretty sure my mother applied for it for me,” Dana said, a sad light in her eyes, but a smile back on her face. “She knew that I didn’t love Keith. And I know she wanted better for me.”

“She could have told your father that they weren’t going to sacrifice you for the betterment of his best friend’s son.”

Josh hated what she was telling him. And understood, too. Family and money came with responsibilities.

“Mom...she doesn’t cross Daniel.”

“But wouldn’t she have told you if she’d applied? Especially after you got the scholarship.”

“Not if there was any chance Daniel would find out.”

“Because you were running out on his friend’s son?”

She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t have to.

Josh knew how unforgiving parents could be when their offspring no longer followed their dictates.

* * *

“DOES DANIEL STILL speak to you?”

With Lindy Lu cuddled up to her chest, Dana sat cross-legged, petting Little Guy as he jumped up and stood in front of her, staring at the new little girl in his life and wagging his tail.

“As much as usual,” she answered carefully. She’d said enough. “Keith met someone else and has settled down.”