Page 4 of Sinful Sharing

Her exhale is immediate. “Oh, thank God. I’d planned to check on him, but I have a fundraiser tomorrow and...” She huffs again. “It’s been crazy around here.”

“I understand.”

“Thank you for doing this.”

“Well, I’m not exactly doing it for free.”

“I know, and um...”

A long pause ensues. Puzzled, I remove the phone from my ear to check if she’s still on the line. Her phone number on the screen confirms it. “Natasha?”

“C—can I ask you to do something?”

“Sure.”

“Please don’t tell Taylor about the money.”

I frown. “Why not?”

“He already thinks all I ever do is throw money at our problems.”

“So you’re paying me behind his back.”

“Yes. I want him to believe you offered because he’s family.”

Leaning against the counter, I stare at the steam rising from the saucepan. That earlier uneasiness returns in a rush.

“Roman, please keep this between us. Taylor hasn’t had the best luck with people lately. I don’t want him to feel as if he’s a burden to anyone.”

I rub a hand over my beard. I’m still conflicted, but she’s his mother. If she doesn’t want him to know about the money, then I’ll respect her wish. “Mum’s the word,” I assure her.

“Thank you.”

“And I’ll do my best to keep him alive.”

A small laugh escapes her. “I was hoping for slightly more than that.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll send him back in one piece.”

“I appreciate it.”

A question had resurfaced when Taylor showed up earlier. Now that I have his mother on the phone, it’s the perfect time to ask. “Natasha.”

“Yes?”

“You still haven’t told me why he’s really here.”

Silence. Long enough for the unease to spread to the pit of my gut. “He needed a change of scenery.”

“That’s what you said before.”

“It’s the truth.”

“It doesn’t sound like all of it.”

Another pause. When she speaks again, her voice is careful. “The city hasn’t been good for him.”

“That’s quite a vague response, Natasha.”