Amanda set her elbows on the table and hung her head, hands covering her face, hair dangling all around. Now that drastic haircut made sense. What we women did to feel better I’d never quite understand, but I had a tattoo and an extra piercing as the result of various disappointments, so no judgment here.
My mom interjected with the clipped voice she always used to stop a discussion before it started. “I lent Lyle money to get this deal in Florida under his belt. We’re waiting to hear back from him about all that.”
My stomach dropped as if the floor had fallen away. I hadn’t asked for Mom’s money—Dad’s money—but Lyle took it? “Waiting to hear back?”
Amanda reexplained about the promissory note and the coworker.
I stole a look at her belly and completely lost my appetite. God, I wished I’d risked the argument back in February. I’d mentioned it to Max at the time, but he’d raised an eyebrow and warned me that if Lyle was as bad as I thought, then I’d better not alienate my sister, because one day she’d need me. Looked like that day was now. Still, if speaking up would’ve planted the slightest seed of doubt about him and prevented this loan situation, estrangement would’ve been worth it.
Crap. Biggest effing mistake in my life—and that’s saying something. “I’m so sorry, Amanda. What can I do . . . besides track down this other woman and make her life a living hell?”
My sister had never shared my bloodlust, but today a fleeting glimmer of vengeance lit her eyes. “Please don’t do anything. I’ll solve this on my own. It’s just been difficult because Lyle hasn’t been easy to reach these past few days.”
She twined her fingers together on top of the table, probably regretting the mini breakdown.
I narrowed my gaze, trying to read her better. She loved that man, no matter how foolish that seemed to me. This had to gut her. If only she’d be open with her feelings, maybe I would know how to help. “You seem strangely calm for someone whose husband is off with another woman.”
She lowered her hands from the table. “I’ve had a few days to get used to the idea.”
I crossed my arms, recalling how people in high school had taken advantage of her generous nature to get what they needed—study outlines, rides, extra cash because she was flush from babysitting money—but rarely had reciprocated. I would’ve dumped pasta on all their heads, too, if I could’ve.
How dare Lyle! My love for movies like Goodfellas prompted all kinds of evil ideas to the point where energy pulsed through my arms and shot to the fists that I’d formed. “We need to take Ebba down. I mean, she’s a class-A bitch to sleep with a married man whose wife is pregnant.”
“Language,” Mom admonished.
Amanda shook her head, looking sadder than I’d seen her since we buried Dad. Man, I was almost glad he wasn’t around to see this. He’d be devastated, and would probably be upset with me for not saying anything, too. Then again, if he’d been around in February, I would’ve asked for his advice. “I’d prefer it if this could stay between us for now. I’m not ready for the whole town to pick sides.”
“Okay.” It chapped my butt that Lyle was getting away with so much. Even worse—he’d known he would, too, because he knew Amanda’s history of smoothing things over. Boy, I wanted to punch him. My thoughts circled back to the sheer hypocrisy of his taking a loan from my mom. “Not to belabor this, but if Lyle’s business plan’s so great, why couldn’t he borrow money from the bank?”
Amanda’s eyes flared to life in his defense . . . and probably in hers for complicity. “He didn’t ask Mom for the money. She overheard us talking about how a bank loan wouldn’t come through in time to jump on the deal.”
On the surface that sounded plausible, but I’d never trusted Lyle. He’d been too polished. Too solicitous to my parents. Too sweet to my sister.
I didn’t go to college, but I knew plenty of pop psychology, and his behavior smacked of everything phony and manipulative. Amanda’s pathological need to please had been the perfect fit for a guy like him. He’d hooked her harder than an Eagle Claw snell did a striped bass. “I guess now Mom wants to be paid back pronto.”
“He probably already invested some of the money, but I’ve asked him to send back whatever is left until he and I work out our situation.” She and Mom exchanged a meaningful look.
“Did he agree?”
“We haven’t actually spoken.” Amanda barely met my gaze. “I’ve left messages.”
This kept getting stranger, and the lack of alarm in her voice had my bells clanging.
“How do you know nothing bad has happened? I mean, even under the circumstances, isn’t he at least keeping tabs on the baby? Maybe you should call Rodri.” Rodrigo, my high school buddy turned cop, might be able to get to Lyle faster than we could.
“We’re not involving the cops in our family’s private business. The affair, the loan. Good God, Erin. Think for once,” Mom snapped.
That was rich coming from the woman who’d handed her savings over to Lyle, but I let it pass. If I had to be the punching bag for her stress, so be it. “I can’t believe that bast—sorry—guy took Dad’s blood money.”
“It isn’t blood money.” Mom bugged her eyes. “If your father were alive, he would’ve helped your sister, too. Lyle’s business success would secure Amanda’s and my granddaughter’s future, so I helped.”
Despite the certain tone, she fiddled with her sleeve and pursed her lips.
Maybe I’d crossed a line, but frustration shook me. And contrary to our mom’s opinion, my poor dad would be furious about this situation. He’d never much trusted Lyle, either. Maybe he hadn’t said it in so many words, but he hadn’t disagreed when I’d told him I thought Amanda marrying Lyle was a mistake. In any case, that money had been for Mom’s comfortable retirement, period. “How much?”
“None of your business.” After a lifetime of my hearing the fierce tone she’d used to control every kid in town, the hollowness in this attempt echoed.
My hackles rose. “That nonanswer tells me I don’t even want to know what you might lose on this investment.”
“It’s not an investment. It’s a loan. We have a loan document.” Mom’s stab at looking smug also failed.
“Oh, I see.” I rubbed an eyelid. “We’re going with the fail-proof ‘wait and hope that everything turns out okay’ plan.”
“Not exactly. Kevin’s sending a private investigator tomorrow.” Amanda’s cheeks glowed like embers.
I raised my brows. “I’m surprised he didn’t insist on the cops.”
“Affairs and loans aren’t crimes, no matter what you two think. It hurts that neither of my siblings support my marriage.” Amanda’s voice cracked as she rubbed her belly.
Support her marriage? I’d kicked Max out for way less than this. Then again, my silence this winter had helped create this whole mess, so I could hardly be indignant.
As if no one else were in the room, Amanda yammered while staring into space. “One day I had a life that made sense. The next, it vanished. I’m still in shock . . . like I’m falling into a bottomless pit with nothing to grab on to. Rage collects in my chest and then bursts like big sorrow bombs. I’m humiliated . . .” She paused, then snapped her gaze to me. “But if Lyle wants to come home, I’ll consider it. He didn’t grow up like us, with a good example of family and commitment, so maybe he’s freaking out about becoming a dad, or he doubts my love and this is his way of testing my commitment. I mean, I have been a little obsessed about the baby lately, so he might’ve felt ignored. I don’t know what comes next, but unlike you, my love doesn’t just die. And I can’t believe his has, either.” Her voice broke on that last sentence as she pushed out of her chair, then tore up the stairs as fast as her big belly allowed.