because she wanted something. Usually that something was money.
âI donât know why youâd care,â Natasha Deacon said dismissively. âNow that Nicholas isnât there to nitpick over every little fingerprint, Iâd think youâd relax a little.â
âI like Nicholasâs neatness. And I love his house. Thetrees are leafed out and the flowers are blooming. Itâs lovely here.â
âIâm sure,â Natasha said impatiently. âI donât know why you like that old house so much. Listen, I donât have long to talk before Roger comes backâ¦â
âWhoâs Roger?â Cynthia asked, trying to put a face with the name.
âYou havenât met him,â her mother told her. âWeâve only been together for five months.â
âWhat happened to the one before that⦠George, I think his name was?â
âFor goodnessâ sake, Cynthia, try to keep up.â Natasha was clearly exasperated. âI broke up with George over a year ago.â
âAh.â Cynthia didnât know what to say. Her mother cycled through men too frequently for her to keep track.
I need a score card, she thought wryly.
âThe point is,â Natasha went on as if Cynthia hadnât spoken. âRoger is being difficult and I need to move out, get my own apartment and start a new life.â
This time, Cynthia couldnât catch the groan before it escaped her lips. âNatasha, not again.â
âDonât judge me, Cynthia.â Natashaâs voice was sharp. âI only need to borrow enough for first and last monthsâ rent. Iâll pay you back.â
âIâm sure you would, Natasha, but unfortunately, I canât swing a loan right now.â
âDonât be ridiculous. You save money from your paycheck every week. You always have. How long are you staying in Indian Springs?â
âI donât know,â Cynthia replied cautiously.
âWhy donât you know? How long did you tell your boss youâd be gone?â
âI no longer have a boss. I quit my job in Palm Springs.â
The dead silence on the phone was testimony to the unprecedented news.
âThatâs not possible. Unless you took a better position somewhere else.â
âNo, actually, I just walked out.â
âWhy on earth would you leave a job at a posh hotel in Palm Springs?â Natasha demanded, disbelief carrying clearly over the line. âI wanted to visit you there this winter. It was the perfect place to get away from Montanaâs cold and snow in February.â
âI left because the head of the company expected me to sleep with him. As I remember, he told me it was one of the âperks of the job.â I disagreed. And I left.â
âThatâs it? Thatâs the reason you leftâbecause the boss wanted to sleep with you?â
âThatâs pretty much it, yes.â Cynthia braced herself for the tirade she knew was sure to follow her confirmation.
âWhen are you going to grow up and start living in the real world, Cynthia? How many times have I told you this world is ruled by men and a woman has to do whateverâs necessary to get ahead?â
âMore times than I can count,â Cynthia said, stifling a sigh.
âI canât believe you left a job that paid so well and was in such a perfect vacation spot.â Natasha sounded seriously miffed. âItâs a good thing you always have ahealthy savings accountâwhich brings us back to the important issue here. I need you to send me a check.â
âMotherâ¦â
âHow many times have I told you not to call me that?â Natashaâs voice rang with exasperation. âIâm much too young to have a daughter your age and Iâm tired of explaining to people that I was barely a child myself when you were born.â
Cynthia rolled her eyes. âIf you want to be called