Chapter 6 - What Dahlia Didn't Tell Me
Dahlia waited until Severin's car disappeared before she spoke.
“Two weeks ago, Tatum asked me to help sort photographs for her business website.”
She had been in Tatum's catering office when a printer jammed.
A half-printed document showed her full name beside the words PERSONAL GUARANTY.
She took a picture because the date was wrong and the address was not hers.
“I asked her what it was,” Dahlia said.
“She laughed and said she was using me as an example for a training form.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you already hated her.”
I opened my mouth.
Dahlia held up one hand.
“Mom, every time Tatum sneezes, you tell me she's trying to take over the family.”
“She's been cruel to you.”
“Sometimes. But I wanted to know for myself whether this was serious.”
She had planned to confront Tatum after the graduation party, once the guests left.
Tatum must have guessed.
I asked to see the photograph.
Dahlia opened her gallery, scrolled, and stopped.
“It's gone.”
She checked the recently deleted folder.
Empty.
Her face changed.
During the party, Tatum had borrowed Dahlia's phone to photograph the chocolate table while Dahlia adjusted her cap.
Tatum knew the passcode because Dahlia had given it to her once during a car trip.
“I can recover a copy from my cloud backup,” Dahlia said, sounding as if she needed the words to be true.
I reached toward her shoulder.
She stepped away.
“I love you,” I told her.
“But I'm sorry I turned your day into a fight.”
Her eyes filled.
“I need you to help without deciding everything for me.”
“Then you lead,” I said.
“I'll stand beside you.”
She looked at her phone again.
May you like
The cloud backup was scheduled to update overnight.
And a message appeared from Tatum: Tell your mother to delete the video before we talk about the loan.
