: Chapter 27

I don’t know what to think. Matthew didn’t just upset the game board, he changed the pieces, the dice and the rules. Actually he changed the whole game board too.

Beth Cardall’s Diary The next morning at work Roxanne just stared at the check. “Holy moly, holy moly, holy moly. Is this real?”

“It’s a money order.”

“Two million six hundred and four thousand dollars. You’re quitting, right?”

“I have no idea what I’m going to do. This is overwhelming.”

“He really gave it all to you. Every penny.”

I nodded. “I think so.”

“I tell you, the man is an angel. And if he wasn’t before, he just earned his wings.”

“He’s not an angel,” I said. “He deceived me. I can’t trust him.”

Roxanne gave me her sternest gaze. “Girl, did someone beat you with a stupid stick? How much more trustworthy could he be? He could have taken all that money and never looked back. But he didn’t. He gave it all to you.” She held up the check. “You got two million dollars’ worth of trustworthy right here. What more proof could anyone ask for?”

I thought over her words. “You think I made a mistake?”

“A mistake? No. Fighting a land war in Asia is a mistake. What you did was epic stupidity. Tossing out the best man you’ve ever known. Criminee, the best man I’ve ever known. You should be worshiping the water he walks on.”

I exhaled. “I’m such an idiot.”

“This time I’m not disagreeing, girl. You go find him and beg him to take you back.”

“What if he’s gone?”

“Then I’d search every inch of pavement in this city until I found him.”

I took a deep breath. “It’s okay if I leave?”

“I’ll fire you if you don’t.”

I kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Rox.”

“Yeah, you better thank me.” I heard her grumbling after me. “God must love fools ’cause he sure made a lot of them.”