mistakes, they tell lies, they drift apart, but all that can be forgiven when there’s love. Maybe you two hadn’t gotten to that point in the particular valley you found yourselves in at the time of his death, but that doesn’t mean that whatever was going on couldn’t have been fixed. You just didn’t have the time to do it. That’s not your fault, Sierra. And yes, it’s a shame you had doubts and suspicions about your husband. I wish he was here to answer your questions and account for that money. But he’s not. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get some answers another way.”
Sierra cocked her head. “What do you mean?”
“Ask Mason to help you.”
The answer surprised her. “What can Mason do?”
“He’s a divorce attorney. He has investigators who uncover everything the opposing spouse is hiding, including hidden bank accounts and such. Perhaps he can figure out why David took out the loan and what he did with the money. If it’s sitting in a secret bank account, that money belongs to you. It would go a long way to getting you back on your feet.”
Sierra hadn’t thought of that. But the idea gave her hope that maybe she could recover the money, or at least part of it, and that she could use it to help take care of the boys.
Although asking Mason for help sounded easy, it was anything but.
A long time ago . . . A lifetime ago, they’d had a moment. There’d been a spark. But she was with David. She’d chosen him.
And maybe a time or two she’d asked herself if she’d made the right decision.
“Sierra.” Her mom snapped out her name like it wasn’t the first time she’d said it.
“Huh. What?”
“I said you could go over and see him tomorrow. Take the boys. You know how much they love to see the horses in the pastures. An up-close look might take their mind off everything else going on.”
“I can’t ask him to look into their father’s past with the boys right there.”
“Be discreet, of course, but ask Mason all the same.”
“Maybe I’ll call his office and make an appointment.”
Dede rolled her eyes. “You’ve known him since you were thirteen. You don’t need an appointment.”
Sierra sighed. “Mom, it’s been a long time since we were friends and neighbors. I’m asking him to do something that isn’t exactly his job. I think approaching him with the request as a business arrangement—”
“Pishaw. This isn’t business. It’s a friend asking a friend for help.”
“It’s a business transaction. I don’t expect him to have his investigator do the work for free.”
“I’m not saying you shouldn’t pay him, but you don’t have to make the request so formal.”
“Mom. Let me handle it my way.” If she even asked him. Seeing him again . . . Well, he might not want to see her at all.
Her mother conceded with a wave of her hand.
Sierra went on, “Besides, depending on the cost, I may not be able to afford his services.” Mason was one of the best divorce attorneys around. Wives loved it when he stuck it to their husbands. Husbands loved that he kept their wives from taking them to the cleaners.
She knew Mason. He’d always been fair-minded, honest, and a great negotiator. He’d settled more than one dispute between her and her sisters back in the day.
She wanted to believe he’d been a little more on her side than her sisters’, but that might be her teenage heart locked in a crush on the boy next door talking.
“You know I’m more than happy to help you through this difficult time.” Dede hadn’t exactly taken her exes to the cleaners, but she’d come out of every divorce with a hefty payout. She could afford to help Sierra. But she had taught her girls to be independent and never rely on others when you were perfectly capable of taking care of yourself.
Well, Sierra had taken that to heart, unlike Heather, who sponged off Dede all the time.
“I appreciate you letting us stay here until I find a job and a place of our own, but I need to take care of the rest.”
“Sierra, honey, I love you. It’s never been easy for you to accept financial support, but I want to help. I have the means.”
“I know. I appreciate it.” But it made her feel guilty and a little bit like she couldn’t take care of herself and the boys on her own when she’d worked so hard to do