“About?”
“You. You’re a boss in the dance world. I’ve seen you manage people and wrangle little kids and do all manner of things, but when you’re around your dad it’s like you second-guess yourself.”
“You’re just saying that because of what my dad said.”
“Yeah, of course I am.” He rolled his eyes. “Come on, Bailey. When you’re with them you shrink back. I’m sorry, but your family don’t do honesty much, do they? You keep secrets from each other, and you paste a smile on your face like you don’t mind when someone hurts you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Every time that Cindy creature opens her mouth you just take it. She deliberately says stuff to annoy you and you just let it slide.”
Her mouth sagged. “I like to think that’s called turning the other cheek. Perhaps you could try it sometime.”
Frustration grew. He swallowed and prayed for calm. “There’s a difference between turning the other cheek and naively faking it and pretending it doesn’t exist and hoping it goes away.”
She gasped. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“Someone has to.” He glanced at Poppy. “I know you and Poppy have been friends for years, but even she doesn’t always tell you the truth.”
Bailey glanced at Poppy. “What haven’t you been saying?”
Poppy glanced at Luc, then back at Bailey, then sighed. “Thanks a lot, Luc.”
“You’re welcome.” Hey, if she’d been friends with Bailey for years he had no problem throwing her under the bus when she should’ve spoken up years ago.
“Poppy?” Bailey asked.
Poppy sighed. “I just didn’t know how to say this.”
“Say what?”
Poppy glanced at him, her eyes narrowed, her mouth now a flat line.
So he shrugged. “Bails, Poppy and I are concerned that your dad is mismanaging your accounts.”
“What? How dare—?”
“Whoa, before you get upset, I’m not saying your dad has done anything wrong or illegal, just that—”
“Have you and Poppy been talking about this?” Bailey interrupted.
He sat back and shot Poppy a look. When she looked at him, he folded his arms. This was on her. As he’d said before, she should have spoken up way before this.
Poppy sighed. “Look, Bails, I never wanted to hurt you, but yeah, I’ve had some concerns about your dad and, well, how capable he is with managing the books.”
“What do you mean? He’s done it for years, and you’ve never said anything before.”
“I’m so sorry,” Poppy said. “It was never my intention to hurt you, but I have to side with Luc. I have concerns.”
“But he’s a member of the church’s finance board,” Bailey exclaimed.
“Is he the church treasurer?” Luc asked.
“Well, no. They have an accountant, I think.”
“So he doesn’t have any role that has a legal position?”
“No, but—”
“He’s not trained as an accountant, is he?”
“You know he’s not. I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”
He rolled his shoulders, his neck tendons popping. “I’ve mentioned before that my dad’s job is in small business strategic planning and he’s seen countless times when people have been taken advantage of by someone they trust. And I don’t want that to happen to you.”
“But my dad isn’t taking advantage of me.”
“Have you spoken with the bank lately?”
Her gaze lowered.
“Bailey?” Poppy asked.
He pressed his lips together. So that was another secret she’d kept.
“I… I kind of forgot. But yes, Mr. Mitsom has had some concerns.” She glanced at Poppy. “Apparently there are some fees that haven’t been paid…” She pushed her face in her hands.
He shifted beside her, wrapped an arm around her. “Bails, you don’t need to keep your dad on in that role. But you do need to be honest with him.”
