Page 87 of Karma
“Oh yeah? Do tell.” Kelly nudged her elbow as she leaned in close.
Liza sighed. “Okay, fine. It’s Dare.” Nuts as it seemed, Liza’s mood had nothing to do with her brother, his drinking, debts, or even the loan sharks lying in wait for her.
“Need me to slap him for you?” One corner of Kelly’s mouth turned up in a grin.
Liza grinned. “Not quite yet.” She thought long and hard before speaking, and when she was ready, she’d sobered. “It’s not Dare’s fault we’re having problems.”
“Then whose is it? Yours?”
If Kelly minded prying, Liza couldn’t tell. She just barged in, and to Liza’s never-ending surprise, she didn’t mind. In fact, she needed the ear. Needed a friend.
“It’s life. Circumstance.” She drew a deep breath and dove in. “I’m sure you know about Stuart Rossman’s death, right?”
Kelly nodded. “And I’m guessing you know Dare was there.”
This time, Liza nodded. “Dare’s holding so much guilt from that night. So am I. If I’d stayed home like I was supposed to, my brother wouldn’t have had the party, and that boy would still be alive.”
Kelly blew out a long breath. “Well, if you ask me, that’s common ground you two share. Not that misplaced guilt is such a great thing, mind you, but how can it keep you apart?”
“He blames my brother and rightly so. Brian’s done nothing to fix his life and has made no effort to make some good come of the past tragedy. Not like Dare has by becoming a cop and a good person.” Liza bit her bottom lip. “And he blames me for enabling Brian’s behavior.”
“Now that’s unfair.”
“But not entirely wrong. But my brother was there for me when I really needed him. He may well have saved my life and shielded me from my parents at the same time. I owe him. And…he’s my brother.”
“I get that. I’d kill for Tess, believe me. But doesn’t there reach a point when they have to sink or swim on their own?”
“Maybe…yes…of course.And I’ve reached that point with Brian—except whatever he’s done now has put me in danger.” She glanced at Kelly. “You know the rest, right?”
The other woman nodded.
“So once I hear from my brother, I have no choice but to tell him I’ll bail him out and pay off whatever he owes. I have to get the loan sharks taken care of—for his safety as well as mine.”
“Dare can’t object to that?”
She shook her head. “But that will only solve this one problem, and Dare and I both know that there’ll be many more in the future. Brian’s drinking and irresponsible behavior reminds Dare of a past he’d rather forget. And by extension,I’ma living, breathing reminder.” She shook her head, unsuccessfully blinking back the tears. “Dammit.” She wiped her eyes with her arm.
Laughing gently, Kelly handed her a napkin from the table.
“It’s linen,” Liza muttered.
“I won’t tell if you won’t.”
Liza smiled. “Thanks.” She blotted her eyes, grimacing at the black smears her makeup left behind. She rolled the napkin inside out and placed it back onto the table. “Look, I appreciate you listening, but I don’t want to put you in the middle or cause trouble with your family.”
Kelly shook her head. “Every person in that family speaks their mind, so forget worrying. And since you told me everything, I’m going to give you my opinion.”
“I’m all ears.” Another woman’s point of view would be welcome at this point.
“Dare’s being a jerk.”
Liza jerked her head up. “Say that again?”
“You heard me. He needs to get over himself. Every family has its share of dysfunction, and his is no different. How dare he judge yours?” She giggled, and Liza couldn’t help but find it infectious.
“Thank you for that. But it really is too much to ask anyone to put up with Brian.” And Liza wasn’t worth the hassle.
She knew that firsthand. Knew it from the cradle, when her parents put her brother’s wants and needs before her own.