Page 27 of Cruz

“You think it could be? I don’t think I’ve ever heard any bad stories about Cruz being a user of women. I mean, sure, I’ve heard that he has slept around—” Tillie stopped and winced.

“Yeah, I’ve come to that conclusion, and guess what, I’m trying not to freak out about it.” She was not going to tell Tillie she also feared there was a high chance she might be pregnant. At no point had she told him to wear a condom.

“It’s a lot to take in.” Kate stopped talking as a much older man walked in, and Kate knew him to be Mr. Moseley, who was one of the town’s oldest attorneys. Kate had gone to him and paid a fortune to make sure the document was sealed with regard to her having complete ownership of the shop. Looking at the grim expression on his face, this was not going to be good.

“Mr. Moseley.”

“Kate, I am afraid we have some bad news.”

“We?”

“Your mother is contesting the legal document she signed to hand over this business to you.”

“You’re kidding?” Kate asked.

“I am not. She is suggesting she was coerced into signing, that you forced her and threatened her.”

Kate gasped. “That’s not true.”

“I know it’s not true. I was there, but I had this document sent, and I am under investigation as well.”

Kate took the letter and started to read. Tillie rushed to her side and read over her shoulder.

“This is total crap. This is not what happened.”

“I believe this is one of those lawyers who likes to cause trouble with the hope of this not going to court.”

“Let me guess, she wants money?” Kate asked. Why wasn’t she surprised.

“Half the annual income, or a million dollars.”

“A million dollars? I do not have that kind of money,” Kate said. She broke even, and there was a small profit that meant she could live comfortably, but all the other money went right back into the business. Small businesses were struggling right now. It was not a good time. The world was a complete shit show. Kate shook her head.

“I recommend you don’t do anything.”

She rubbed her temples, because this was the last thing she wanted or needed right now.

“I will handle this, Kate, I promise,” Mr. Moseley said. “I just wanted you to be prepared, and I also don’t want you to talk to your mother. Until further notice, you cannot have contact with her.”

She nodded her head. “That’s not exactly hard. We’ve not spoken since she asked to have the shop back and I told her no.”

Mr. Moseley put a hand on her shoulder. He’d helped her in the beginning. No one wanted to help her, but he had.

“Thank you.”

Her good mood was well and truly gone now. She watched her lawyer leave her shop, and she turned to look at Tillie. Her throat burned and she felt sick to her stomach. She didn’t want to have to deal with this.

“I’m fine,” she said. Although, she was not fine. Tillie went to her, and then she burst into tears as her friend put her arms around her and hugged her.

“Is it wrong that I hate my mother?”

“No, it’s not wrong.”

“I should love my mother.”

“Honey, you don’t have to do anything,” Tillie said. “Some parents you love and others you don’t. Don’t worry about it, and Mr. Moseley said he was going to take care of it, and he is going to take care of it.”

Kate took a deep breath, because Tillie was right. She had to hope that common sense would win the day. The last thing she wanted was to lose her shop.