Chapter 6
Kyle
My mind can’t wrap itself around what I just
read. Was I really like that? Did I latch myself
onto a man that had no love for me? I’m frozen in
my thoughts and can’t grasp reality. Was I
delusional to think that when he asked me out or
asked me to marry him that it was in my head?
I log into my social media account and look
back at the video of his proposal. There’s no
denying that he is the one–on–one knee asking
me to marry him. The audio proves it’s his voice
that I hear asking for my hand in marriage. His
parents are there in the background. So if all of
this is here for me to see, how did I force this on
him?
I remember being surprised that he asked
me to marry him. He had never let on that he
Chapter 6
was thinking about marrying me. He had been in
college and was home on a break. I had gone to
a local community college to get a two–year
degree, because my parents weren’t there to
help me. I had to work a full–time job and go to
school at night to get that degree. He showed up
at a community picnic and asked me to marry
him. I was beyond shocked but also more happy
than I had ever been.
I can’t be crazy. I’ve been going to therapy
for years, trying to learn how to cope with my
parents‘ death. They died in a car accident that
couldn’t be explained. The conclusion was that
my father had a heart attack while driving and
they were both killed on impact. The trauma of
all of this made me spend countless hours
talking with my therapist about every aspect of
my life. I think she would have told me if I was
delusional about my life. She has always been
upfront and honest with me about my condition
2/1
Chapter 6
and there was never any diagnosis other than
depression and anxiety.
Whatever Kyle thought was going on was
whatever he made up himself. The man had
obviously been lying to me for years and I’m not
going to let him make me question my sanity.
The next morning, I headed to Mr. Hendrix.
There wasn’t anyone at his office when I arrived
early. I open the door and a bell rings followed by
his voice calling that he’ll be out in a moment. I
look around the office and see that nothing has
changed since I was a child and would visit with
my parents.
“Well, look at you! Little Tabitha is all grown
up!” He says and wraps me in a hug. He and my
father were always close friends, and it feels like
I’m seeing a long–lost uncle. “I’m sorry to hear
about Kyle sugar. Is there anything that I can do
to help you?”
3/
Chapter 6
I spent the next hour telling him everything.
From the divorce to the letter, I leave nothing
out. Shock is written all over his face, but I can
tell that he isn’t as shocked as he should be.
There’s something that Mr. Hendrix isn’t saying.
“I know there’s something you want to say.
So please don’t hide it from me.” I say, pleading.
I’ve had enough damn secrets kept from me.
“I never trusted that boy. He told me he
would handle your trust, and I knew something
was up then.” He says with anger.
ask.
“Wait. What trust are you talking about?” I
“The one your parents left you sugar. You
have ten million in that thing. I always wondered
why you never came to me about setting up your
accounts or getting any of that money.” He looks
at me, confused.
Chapter 6
“I don’t know anything about a trust. My
parents weren’t well off Mr. Hendrix. We always
had the simplest of lifestyles.” I say. There’s no
way I could have something like that from them.
“I told Kyle to bring you to my office after the
funeral. He came by himself saying you were too
upset. I told him that there were financial matters
that we needed to talk about. All I told him is that
your parents set up something for you just in
case. He told me he would let you know and
would handle it for you. I never disclosed how
much it was, but the sneaky thing was that he
found out. He once told me that you were
requesting him to be in charge of it, but I
wouldn’t let him until I spoke with you. I never
heard from him again.”
It feels like my brain can’t process anything.
Kyle hid all of this from me. My parents left me a
large sum of money and I had to work multiple
jobs to take care of myself before I married Kyle.
517
Chapter 6
That asshole!
ask.
“Why didn’t you just come straight to me?” I
“He blocked every attempt I made. Plus, you
looked so happy. I thought you didn’t need the
money.” He looks at me with shame. He knows
he could have gotten to me if he tried hard
enough.
“Alright. I get that Kyle was blocking you
from getting to me, but there are other ways you
could have gotten to me. Because you were so
kind to me my whole life, I will forgive this. But
under no circumstances is anyone to know about
this.” He nods his head in agreement.
We spend the next hour setting everything
up for the life insurance policy and my trust. Mr.
Hendrix will be the only person who will be able
to contact me once I get myself established
somewhere new. I leave his office with a new
Chapter 6
mindset. No more morning over what was. This
town and all the people in it are going to be in
the past. And I’m only going to look to the future
