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A weak sht"

"I’d still like to hear it fro moment, she nodded, and the whole story spilled out It was exactly like Claire had said, onlyfrom his mom’s lips

She told him about her increased visits to the casino, how overjoyed she’d felt when she’d won and how desperate she hen she started losing She told his account, the e she’d secured She told hi up all her personal days and then eventually not showing up altogether

When she got to the part about how she’d finally had to confide in Chris because the bank had sent her a foreclosure notice, Dylan’s chest tightened with both syer

"You should have told me," he muttered

"I couldn’t I didn’t want to see the disappointed look on your face, the one you’re wearing now You’ve always been eo back to work after your father died" Tears welled up in her eyes "Sam would be horrified if he knehat I’d done"

Dylan’s throat started to feel tight "No, he wouldn’t Dad would have recognized that you had a problem, and he would have stood by you Don’t ever doubt that"

"Do you really believe that?"

"I really believe that," he said firain, her voice sounded steadier "I’m so sorry I should have told you the truth"

"Yes, but I understand why you didn’t You were scared And between me and Chris, he’s definitely the one in a financial position to help" Dylan’s tone became stern "With that said, I need you to tell me exactly how serious this is financially, so I kno aze flew to his "What? No, Dylan You don’t have to do that I don’t want you to do that"

"Tough shit"

She raised her eyebrows and shot hi end of uiltily "I’ ed in defeat "All right"

"Good Now before we get into all the unpleasant money stuff…" He reached for the present he’d left on the weathered pine coffee table and held it out "Merry Christain, and when he saw her awed expression after she re teary-eyed hilass cabinet across the roo since before Dylan was even born Then she threw her arhtly he could hardly breathe "Thank you"

"You’re welcoh the lump in his throat

They both fell silent, until Shanna finally cleared her throat "Why don’t I make us some coffee? You can open so else that needs to be discussed"