Page 97 of Sing Me Home
Charlie gave me a pleading look. I couldn’t even hold her stare. I turned away, facing the picture window overlooking the yard.
A hailstorm of words flew behind me. But as I stood there watching my younger cousins outside, laughing and whooping, oblivious and carefree, I wished I was back there. Wished Charlie and I were still kids, catching fireflies, teasing each other, fishing and swimming all summer. She could blame herself but this was just as much my fault as it was hers. If I would’ve told her how I felt all those years ago, none of this would’ve happened.
Dad’s voice pulled me to the present. “We’re already on top of it. You don’t need to worry. Blue and I have it covered.”
Charlie’s head gave a shake, like she hadn’t heard him right. “What do you mean you’realreadyon top of it?”
“I mean, that I hired a PI right after that segment aired onThe Truth Isand I’ve known about the debt for about a week now.”
What?
Everyone was staring at Dad, except for Blue, Holden, and Mom, who clearly already knew.
“Why are y’all looking at me like that?” Dad said like he was shocked the rest of us hadn’t figured it out. “I wanted to make sure she was really in the clear. Turns out, she’s not.”
Silas huffed. “I can’t believe y’all have been having a powwow and didn’t include me.”
Again, same.
“It’s ’cause you’re a tightwad,” Bowen snickered.
Silas shut him up with a hard stare.
Ash swung his glare on my dad. “I should’ve been included in your discussion. I’m her father.”
Blue smiled. But that sucker always smiled. “You just had your sixth kid. Keep your money.”
“We’ll help,” Aunt Christy said.
“And so will we,” Silas said defiantly.
“Us too,” Gramps said.
Panic flashed across Charlie’s face—like she was trapped in a cave with rising water. “No! This is my mistake and I’m going to fix it.”
Ashton stepped from behind Tally. “It wasn’t a mistake. You didn’t do anything to deserve this.”
“It’s too much debt,” Gramps said. “Surely you can see that.”
Everyone started in, talking over each other.
I’d listened to what they all had to say and I appreciated that they wanted to help. But Charlie was my responsibility now and it was time for them to start realizing that.
“I’ll cover it,” I said, over the noise. “I got my advance. Thank you, Dad.” I gave him a nod. “And we can?—”
“Absolutely not!” Mom retorted. “You are twenty-two years?—”
“And I love her,” I shot back. “So I’m going to take care of it.”
“Ford!” Mom yelped.
Dad groaned, dragging a hand down his face.
“Wealllove her,” Ashton snorted in my direction, like this had suddenly turned into a chest thumping match. “Y’all are pissing me off. Let me take care ofmykid. Put your wallets away.”
Dad sighed. “Ash, be logical. If Blue and I cover it, we won’t even feel it.”
Ashton rolled his eyes. “You know, it’s starting to get old that you’re always throwing your money in our faces like freaking Scrooge McDuck. Let me guess, your mattress is stuffed with dollar bills.”
