the idea that there was something not quite right about Midas.
After listening to Dalton's story, Colleen would never again question that feeling. Judge Manfred T. Langley had used his fortune, his undue influence, and his oppressive power to cover up for his worthless son. In the process, he blithely did his best to ruin a life. It was never about Dalton. He could have been anyone. The goal was to maintain the family's lustrous public image. Collier was proof positive that it was all a money-fortified veneer.
Colleen couldn't help but wonder how Judge Langley continued to clean up his son's messes. It had to be a full-time job—for more than one person. Their world was small, but social media made it difficult to keep anything secret. Perhaps Collier had settled down. Colleen doubted it. More likely, he made his mistakes close to home, where Daddy continued to sweep them away.
After taking another quick swim, Colleen and Dalton had headed back to Midas. On the drive back, he mentioned the dinner invitation from Tolliver Cline.
"Do you know the family?"
"I knew Tolliver's daughter—a little. Rita was a year ahead of me in school. I have a nodding acquaintance with the rest of the family."
"I thought everybody hung out in small towns."
"This is Midas, not Mayberry, Dalton. The divides are deep and rarely crossed. Tolliver runs a very successful landscaping business. The northsiders keep him busy. And from what I understand, well compensated. In fact, I didn't think he did any of the physical labor anymore. He has a big crew that takes care of that."
"Tol seemed like a nice guy. Friendly."
"I suppose it depends on who you are. My mother does his wife's hair. I work on the family's transportation. But we do not socialize."
"It's that bad?"
Dalton looked surprised. Colleen had to remind herself that he was an outsider. It was hard to grasp the way things worked when he hadn't lived here as long as she had.
"Most residents wouldn't call it good or bad. It just is."
"What do you call it?"
"Massively screwed up." Colleen turned the T-Bird onto her street. "My mother likes Midas. As she puts it, every town has its little quirks."
"Your mother has an interesting way of looking at things."
"Tell me about it." Like Midas, her mother was hard to explain. "I love her, but I will never understand her. Naturally, that goes both ways. We've learned to live with our differences. Mostly."
"Families are tricky."
"You still haven't heard from your brother-in-law?"
While they swam, Dalton had given Colleen an overview of why he was in Midas. She had always wished for a sibling. Now, she wondered if she had been the lucky one. The life of an only child could be lonely, but there was nobody to surprise her with a knife in the back. Tricky. And terrifyingly treacherous.
Dalton glanced at his phone, then sighed. "It doesn't make any sense. If I didn't know any better, I would think Maggie hadn't passed on my message."
Colleen didn't want to open a bigger rift between brother and sister, but she had to ask. "Is that a possibility?"
"Not long ago, I would have said no. Maggie is too fond of the money I send her every month. But now—after speaking to her—I don't know."
Pulling to a stop outside her apartment building, Colleen grabbed her bag from the backseat.
"I say screw the two of them. But I don't have the history or the blood ties."
Dalton ran a hand through his short, dark hair. "That whole blood is thicker than water thing? In my case, it's pretty much bullshit."
"It's sad, I know. But you're lucky. You found your real family."
If she were ever lucky enough to meet the members of Dalton's band, Colleen would have her little fangirl moment. Then, she would thank them. They had been there at the critical times in Dalton's life. When he was young and needed something solid to anchor himself. Through the lean years when they could have let ego and petty arguments tear them apart.
When it all could have fallen apart,
After listening to Dalton's story, Colleen would never again question that feeling. Judge Manfred T. Langley had used his fortune, his undue influence, and his oppressive power to cover up for his worthless son. In the process, he blithely did his best to ruin a life. It was never about Dalton. He could have been anyone. The goal was to maintain the family's lustrous public image. Collier was proof positive that it was all a money-fortified veneer.
Colleen couldn't help but wonder how Judge Langley continued to clean up his son's messes. It had to be a full-time job—for more than one person. Their world was small, but social media made it difficult to keep anything secret. Perhaps Collier had settled down. Colleen doubted it. More likely, he made his mistakes close to home, where Daddy continued to sweep them away.
After taking another quick swim, Colleen and Dalton had headed back to Midas. On the drive back, he mentioned the dinner invitation from Tolliver Cline.
"Do you know the family?"
"I knew Tolliver's daughter—a little. Rita was a year ahead of me in school. I have a nodding acquaintance with the rest of the family."
"I thought everybody hung out in small towns."
"This is Midas, not Mayberry, Dalton. The divides are deep and rarely crossed. Tolliver runs a very successful landscaping business. The northsiders keep him busy. And from what I understand, well compensated. In fact, I didn't think he did any of the physical labor anymore. He has a big crew that takes care of that."
"Tol seemed like a nice guy. Friendly."
"I suppose it depends on who you are. My mother does his wife's hair. I work on the family's transportation. But we do not socialize."
"It's that bad?"
Dalton looked surprised. Colleen had to remind herself that he was an outsider. It was hard to grasp the way things worked when he hadn't lived here as long as she had.
"Most residents wouldn't call it good or bad. It just is."
"What do you call it?"
"Massively screwed up." Colleen turned the T-Bird onto her street. "My mother likes Midas. As she puts it, every town has its little quirks."
"Your mother has an interesting way of looking at things."
"Tell me about it." Like Midas, her mother was hard to explain. "I love her, but I will never understand her. Naturally, that goes both ways. We've learned to live with our differences. Mostly."
"Families are tricky."
"You still haven't heard from your brother-in-law?"
While they swam, Dalton had given Colleen an overview of why he was in Midas. She had always wished for a sibling. Now, she wondered if she had been the lucky one. The life of an only child could be lonely, but there was nobody to surprise her with a knife in the back. Tricky. And terrifyingly treacherous.
Dalton glanced at his phone, then sighed. "It doesn't make any sense. If I didn't know any better, I would think Maggie hadn't passed on my message."
Colleen didn't want to open a bigger rift between brother and sister, but she had to ask. "Is that a possibility?"
"Not long ago, I would have said no. Maggie is too fond of the money I send her every month. But now—after speaking to her—I don't know."
Pulling to a stop outside her apartment building, Colleen grabbed her bag from the backseat.
"I say screw the two of them. But I don't have the history or the blood ties."
Dalton ran a hand through his short, dark hair. "That whole blood is thicker than water thing? In my case, it's pretty much bullshit."
"It's sad, I know. But you're lucky. You found your real family."
If she were ever lucky enough to meet the members of Dalton's band, Colleen would have her little fangirl moment. Then, she would thank them. They had been there at the critical times in Dalton's life. When he was young and needed something solid to anchor himself. Through the lean years when they could have let ego and petty arguments tear them apart.
When it all could have fallen apart,
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