“She was grieving,” I whisper. “She got better.”

She was forced to get better.

Child protective services were called when I went to a neighbor’s house asking how to cook a frozen turkey. It was all that was left in the freezer and I dragged the rock-hard thing next door. I didn’t realize that day I’d be getting my mother into trouble.

Luckily, it was the wake-up call she needed.

I spent the night with strangers, but the next day, the mom I knew and loved was back. She was fierce, loving, and protective. Since I was young, I don’t remember all the details, just that she was back to taking care of both of us and going to work like normal.

And then, one day, Darren was there, filling the role of dad.

“When you have an expensive oxy habit, it’s amazing how quickly you can go bankrupt,” Darren states, a smugness in his tone that grates on me. “Your mom was on the verge of losing everything.”

My stomach twists at his words. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying your mother was desperate. Desperation can make you do crazy things.”

I wrack my brain for memories of years back. Mom went on a vacation without me one summer, while I stayed with some people who were practically family, and when she came back, she was married to Darren.

“She married you for your money?” I rasp out. “That’s what this is all about.”

Darren snorts. “Hardly. You know your mother doesn’t do anything in moderation. Her Michael Kors bags can attest to that.”

Mom remains strangely quiet, as though she’s resigned herself to the fact he’s going to tell her biggest secrets—ones that are going to destroy her family.

“I don’t understand,” I whisper.

“Your mom embezzled from the law firm she works at. She stole money from that old man you used to call Grandpa Leo.”

Mom’s boss, Leo Sorrel, was the family I’d stayed with while she ran off to marry Darren.

“What?”

Darren laughs. “Right? Leo may be an attorney, but he’s a great guy. Who would steal from that guy? She’d have to be a heartless, selfish bitch.”

She was an addict.

A grieving addict on the verge of losing her child.

I can understand the desperation, but it doesn’t make it right.

“Mom…” I trail off, hurt in my voice. “Does he know?”

“If he knew,” Darren says in triumph, “your mother would be in prison for a very long time.”

Mom tenses but doesn’t argue his words.

“How much?”

“Enough,” Mom croaks out.

“Last time I checked, it was upwards of what, one? Two?” Darren asks, his eyebrow arching.

“Thousands?”

Darren barks out a laugh. “You sweet, naïve child. Thousands? How cute.”