Kadian decided that she didn't have time for this. It was almost closing time, and she was looking forward to just finishing upand going straight to bed. She was so tired; it felt as if she was being dragged by ropes.
"Okay." Shrugging out of her jacket, she unwound the scarf and placed it over her arm. She had some paperwork to finish up. "Marge, I don't—you can leave whenever you want. The store is empty."
"It's Robert Whitlock." The woman had latched her fingers onto the sleeve of her sweater and wasn't letting go. "I recognize him."
Kadian went still at that, her heart taking a dive.
"Why is he here?"
The woman shrugged. "They're shouting at each other."
"Oh." For a minute, she just stood where she was.
"There are some things you need to know." Marge muttered. Tugging on Kadian's hand, she drew her over to the pastry table. "He forced me to play along with his scheme."
Shaking her head, Kadian focused on the woman standing in front of her, wringing her hands.
"What are you talking about?"
"Your father." She rushed on to say. "He's not sick. He doesn't have a weak heart. He's been pretending so that he could keep you here." She sucked in a breath. "We're lovers." She gripped her hands together. "I'm in love with him, but he was just using me. I-I know about the marriage and that he wants to mess things up for you. That's what he and Robert Whitlock are in there arguing about."
Kadian simply stared at the woman and felt the buzzing starting in her ears. "I don't understand. Dad lied to me?"
"Yes." Taking her hand, Marge urged her toward the back. "Go and listen. When you come back out, I will be gone. And I won't be coming back." The woman stared at her wistfully. "Your father is a very sick man, and I'm not talking physically, butemotionally. And he's a user. Go. And when you hear everything, try to make it up with your husband."
Even after Marge had left, she just stood there. The impact of what she had just heard roared through her body and weakened her knees. It was a mistake, she decided frantically. She was lying. Surely her father would never— Galvanized into action, she rushed toward the back and stopped just outside the door. The argument was heated. Pushing the door open, she saw her dad standing at the window and Robert Whitlock facing him. Both men were so absorbed in the argument, neither of them noticed she had entered the room.
"You did the same thing to her mother, you son of a bitch, and now you're doing it to her. Your own daughter." Robert's voice was as cold as ice. "You used Kathy, bled her dry, and she still stood by you. Now you're wreaking havoc on your daughter's life. Who the hell are you?"
"You stole from me!"
"You were the one who did the stealing. You had this warped idea of what life is supposed to be. All these get-rich-quick schemes. You cleaned her out—Kathy gave you everything, and you took without conscience."
"She cheated on me, with you!"
Robert stepped forward, and for a few seconds, Kadian feared he was going to get physical.
"She was faithful, and you knew it. Always was. You didn't deserve her, you bastard."
"And you did?" her father sneered. "You with your family money and your good looks and privileged lifestyle. She was always going to you for advice. I deserved the money that her filthy parents gave to charity."
"And that's why you married her."
Kadian held her breath and waited for the response.
"So what the hell?" he said. "I was born poor. I never knew my father, and my mother was weak and stupid. She cleaned people's houses—rich people who looked down on her. I wanted better."
"At least she did an honest day's work. What the hell did you do?"
"I married someone with money!" he shouted. "I would have had it all—if it wasn't for..." His voice trailed off as he noticed his daughter standing there. "Honey—"
"Oh my God." She whispered, her heart shattering. "What have you done?"
"All lies. This bastard came in here and—"
"I heard everything, Dad. And Marge confessed." She looked at the man standing there, her father-in-law for now. "Why did you come?"
"My son is hurting, and so are you." He told her quietly. "I came to set things straight."
