Page 80 of The Secrets We Treasure

Barbara continued with her narrative. “Shortly after you left Honeysuckle Island, Josette paid me a visit.”

Treasure flinched. Just when she thought she’d heard it all, there was more.

“She breathed out a similar threat to me as she did to you.” Barbara’s mouth hardened. “She told me that she knew about the affair and that if I didn’t leave Honeysuckle Island, she’d have me fired.”

“What did you do?” Her mom was still here, so she must’ve figured something out.

A triumphant smile curled her lips. She leaned forward, giving Treasure a significant look. “Here’s where it gets interesting. I told Josette that I knew her secret. That if she exposed me or tried to have me fired, then I would go public with what I knew.”

Treasure’s jaw went slack. She’d never pegged her mom as a power player. There were definitely more layers to Barbara Sherman than she realized. “What secret do you know about Josette? Did Oliver tell you something?”

Cherry giggled and fanned her hand. “Go on. This is my favorite part.”

Barbara’s eyes lit with laughter. “No, I don’t know anything.”

Treasure felt her eyes bug. “You don’t?”

“Nope. Not a dang thing.”

Treasure made a face. “But there must be something; otherwise, Josette wouldn’t have backed off.”

“Exactly,” Barbara said emphatically.

Treasure sat back, processing all the information. It would take her time to come to terms with her parentage. There was so much to take in.

“About you and Greer,” Barbara began.

“There is no me and Greer,” Treasure muttered. “It’s over.”

Cherry gave her a disbelieving look. “All this time, you’ve had one-hundred-thousand dollars and you never spent any of it?”

“Nope.”

“Where is it?” Cherry asked.

A ghost of a grin passed over Treasure’s lips. “In the backyard. Under the oak tree.”

“The live oak?” Barbara asked, wide-eyed.

“Yep, that’s the one. It has Greer’s and my initials carved in it.”

Cherry shook her head. “It’s been there all these years?”

“I hope so. I’ve never touched it.” Treasure scooted back her chair and stood. “There’s only one way to find out.”

Barbara’s eyes turned to saucers. “It’s still pouring down rain. You can’t go back out there.”

“I can and I will.” Treasure straightened her shoulders. “I’m gonna dig that money up and throw it back in Francie and Josette’s faces.”

Cherry eyed her with compassion. “What about you and Greer?”

Tears pressed against her eyes. Treasure had cried so much she was surprised she had any left. “The ball is in his court.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I guess time will tell.” She looked from Cherry to her mom. “Don’t wait up. This might take a while.”

“Treasure,” Barbara called. “Wait until tomorrow.”

“I’m done waiting,” she growled as she marched out the side door leading to the garage to get a shovel.

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