Chapter 30

But Ted had already caught up to Netty. “What’s going on here?” he asked her, trying to slow her down with a gentle tug of her sleeve.

She was in tears now. “Liam threatened to fire me, so I quit!”

Liam shook his head, fixing his eyes on Ted’s. “I didn’t threaten to fire her, but I might have been a little out of line there.”

Ted seemed to instantly understand the delicate situation and pulled Netty aside. “Come here. Let’s you and me have a talk. Out of the sun. Let’s get you some water.”

Liam was grateful for Ted’s experience, but still rattled by Netty’s outburst. He’d never wanted things to come to this. He’d made a mess of things again. All of his relationships ended this way. It was the lies. The constant averting of personal questions. People, especially women, became resentful after a while.

All this because you can’t be yourself. You coward. You deserve to lose everyone you care about.