He had already taken care of himself.
I brought the records to Mr. Collins.
He examined them carefully.
“Debbie, this is worth investigating.”
“What happens now?”
“We’ll request an explanation and determine whether these funds were properly accounted for.”
I nodded.
For the first time, I wasn’t afraid of Gary’s reaction.
I wasn’t afraid of his anger.
I wasn’t afraid of losing him.
I was simply
determined not to let twenty-two years of trust become an excuse for financial dishonesty.
Mr. Collins sent a formal letter.
Gary called me the following evening.
His voice was furious.
“What are you trying to do?”
I was sitting in my studio, painting a landscape.
“I’m trying to understand where our savings went.”
“You know exactly where they went!”
“Then explain it.”
He hesitated.
“I needed money for my new life.”
“Fifty thousand dollars?”
“I was going to pay it back!”
