Page 131 of Fierce-Michael

They finished their meal and were leaving the restaurant when Kelly heard her name called.

She turned and the last person she expected to see was Brian’s mother. “Grace,” she said. “How are you?”

Grace just stared, Bruce next to her. Time hadn’t been friendly to her late husband’s parents.

They’d aged horribly and still had bitter looks on their faces. Something they’d never had when she was a teen and dating their son.

“Not as well as you, it seems,” Grace said.

“Let’s go, Grace,” Bruce said. “There is no reason to bother with her. She’s made her choices in life.”

Kelly didn’t know what this was about. Or why they’d even call her out.

“Are you going to introduce us to who you are with?” Grace asked.

She didn’t want to but wouldn’t be rude like them. “Michael Marshall, this is Grace and Bruce Dunlap. Brian’s parents.”

Good thing she’d told Michael who he was; otherwise that would have been a hard thing to explain now.

“Just a word of warning to you,” Grace said. “Kelly never does anything without an ulterior motive.”

Her jaw dropped. “What does that mean? I loved Brian. I’ve always loved Brian.”

“You stole from him. All you wanted was easy money,” Grace said.

“We are leaving,” Bruce said and pulled his wife away.

“What was that about?” Michael asked when they got in his SUV.

He didn’t start it to pull away either.

“I told you there were things said at the end. I’m not sure why she even called my name and didn’t move on.”

“She had a reason for it,” he said. “Wanting to warn me off. You stole money?”

“The fact you have to even ask me that is horrible and insulting,” she said.

“I’m not trying to insult you, rather find out what this is all about. I’ve never questioned you much on things and havehonored the fact that maybe you didn’t want to talk about it in your grief.”

“I’ve told you what happened and the reason it all did,” she said.

“But you left something out about money?” he asked. “Why else would they bring this up?”

She sighed. “I’ve never wanted to tell anyone. It was part of the reason things got so bad.”

She started to sniffle. She didn’t want to relive this and wondered why she never said anything before.

“Obviously,” he said. “And it only makes me think you are keeping secrets from me when I’ve been more open with you than anyone else in my life. Ever.”

His voice had risen some and she knew he was pissed.

“Don’t get mad at me,” she said. “For something that you have no understanding of. This isn’t about knocking someone up and her not wanting her kid. Or not being a parent. This is about a person I loved for years.”

“And admitted that you married him to make him happy at the end knowing that it wouldn’t last. Or are you denying that?”

“I’m not denying it,” she argued. “I’ve never denied it. I was honest about it all.”

“But not whatever this money issue is?” he asked.