Page 8 of Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

“Since his job is security now, I’m sure he could,” I said, “but I can’t exactly afford him. Not with Roy freezing all of Momma’s assets. Which makes me feel even worse that Tilly’s paying me, and I’m practically worthless.”

“You’re not worthless,” she asserted.

“But I’m not Momma.”

She grinned. “No one is, and while I loved Lila like a mother, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

I laughed.

“Tilly understands.”

“I know she does,” I said, sobering again. “I almost wish she didn’t. Then I wouldn’t feel so guilty, because bottom line, Southern Belles is hurting right now, and Tilly can’t afford to keep paying me for doing a half-ass job.”

“You don’t do a half-ass job,” she insisted.

“Maybe not, but there’s no disputing I’m only doing half a job.” I propped my elbow on the counter and rested my cheek on my hand. “I need to find something else, but no one wants to hire me. I’m too big of a distraction. I need to find a job where I can work at home.”

“That sounds like an absolutely terrible idea,” Belinda said. “Stuck in Colt’s tiny apartment all the time? That would make things worse.”

I suspected she was right. “I’m not sure what else to do.”

“Maybe you need to get away from Franklin for a while.”

I flinched. “You want me to leave?”

“No, of course not. I’m just saying you should take a long vacation somewhere. Try to let things die down. People stare at you here because you’ve been in the local news so much. Give them some time to forget.”

“While that sounds great,” I said, “can I remind you that I don’t have the money to take a vacation?”

“I can lend you the money.”

I vigorously shook my head, nearly falling off my stool. “No.”

“Magnolia, you can pay me back once the will issue with Roy is settled.”

“That could take years.”

“It’s okay.”

“If Roy is fighting me on Momma’s will, surely he’s fighting you on the divorce, which means you don’t have much money to spare either.”

She grimaced. “Surprisingly, he’s not.”

“Huh. So it’s personal.” I wasn’t sure why I was surprised. While Roy had admitted that he loved me, he’d spent most of his life hating me too. Sure, he’d shown up with Belinda to save me from Tripp Tucker and our father, but I suspected part of him resented me for it.

“I’m sorry,” she said, looking even guiltier.

“Don’t be sorry that he’s not making your life hell anymore. He already dragged you through enough misery during your marriage.”

“He made your life hell too.”

I shrugged, trying to make a show of not caring. “Not as much as yours.”

“It’s not a competition.”

No. It definitely wasn’t.

“Why are you here, Magnolia?” she asked again. “This bar is packed full of the sixtysomethings crowd, not to mention it’s where you were supposed to meet Walter Frey that night. There are other places we could have gone.”