Fool's Gold Collection Volume 4: Halfway There / Just One Kiss / Two of a Kind / Three Little Words. Susan Mallery
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too. I feel stupid and lost. My parents have been married something like a hundred and fifty years.” She gave a rueful smile. “Okay, more like thirty-five, but still. Maeve has been married twelve years and keeps popping out babies. I’m the family failure.”
Patience pushed the guacamole toward her. “Is that why you’re visiting? Because of the divorce?”
“Some of it. My parents have decided it’s time for them to follow their dreams. Maeve and I are grown and they don’t want to wait until they’re too old to travel. So they took their ‘rainy day’ fund and bought themselves tickets on a cruise around the world.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No. They leave in a couple of weeks. They also want to sell Paper Moon.”
Patience stared at her, a chip raised halfway to her mouth. “No way.” Paper Moon was the local bridal shop in town. It was an institution. Isabel’s great-grandmother had opened the store.
“I know,” Isabel said. “I was shocked, too. But my mom is tired of running it and Maeve isn’t interested. She has too many babies even if she was.”
“I can’t picture the square without Paper Moon Wedding Gowns.”
“It will still be there. I’m sure we’ll find a buyer.”
“But it won’t be the same.”
Isabel glanced out the window. “Everything changes, even when we don’t want it to.” She grabbed a chip. “Anyway, that’s why I’m back. I’m going to work in the store for the next eight months and get it ready to sell. In return I get a cut of the sales price. Good news for me because I’m going to need the money.”
She leaned forward, her expression more animated. “I have a friend in New York. Sonia. She’s a brilliant designer. We’re going to go into business together. Working in my folks’ store for a few months will give me the retail experience I’ll need and some extra cash for start-up costs.”
“You sound excited.”
“I am. My plans mean I can stand living here for a little while.”
“It’s not so bad here. You’ll do fine,” Patience told her.
“I can’t believe you never left.”
“I didn’t want to. I like the town.”
“I do, too, but come on. There’s a whole world out there.”
Patience knew that was true, but she’d never been all that interested in it.
The server returned and they placed their orders. When she was gone, Isabel looked at her friend. “So, I’ve done all the talking. What’s new with you?”
“For once, I have actual news.” Patience told her about Great-Aunt Becky and the money and the coffeehouse she and her mom were going to open.
Isabel laughed. “That’s fantastic.” She raised her glass of diet soda. “To all your dreams coming true.”
They clinked glasses.
“I’m terrified,” Patience admitted. “I don’t know anything about retail. I’ve taken some classes, but it’s not the same.”
“I know what you mean. I worked in the bridal shop when I was in high school and college, but that was just for the money. I wasn’t paying attention to how things were run. If I don’t do well, we can’t sell it for as much and there goes my nest egg.”
“We’ll be learning together,” Patience said.
“I like the sound of that. We’ll support each other.” Isabel picked up another chip. “Have you heard anything about Ford Hendrix lately?”
The question was casual enough. To someone who didn’t know Isabel’s past, it would be seen as a thoughtful inquiry. But Patience did know her friend’s history. Instead of answering, she raised her eyebrows.
“Really?”
Isabel rolled her eyes. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m just curious.”
“Because you’re getting a divorce?”
“No. Of course not. I’m back and that’s making me think about the past.”
“And how he was your ‘one true love’?”
Isabel winced. “Please don’t say it like that. It makes me sound like a crazy stalker.”
“You were a fourteen-year-old with a crush. I’m not sure there’s a difference.” Patience grinned. “You were wild about him.”
“Like you’re one to talk. You had a serious thing for that guy who left. What was his name?”
“Justice.”
“Right. It was all so mysterious. Did you ever find out what happened to him?”
“Yes.”
“Really? When?”
“A few days ago. He’s back.”
Isabel glared at her. “You didn’t tell me? You let me go on and on about my boring life when you have that kind of news? Have you talked to him? What’s he like? Where did he go? Why is he here?”
Patience sipped her soda. “As unbelievable as it sounds, he was in the witness protection program.” She quickly outlined the details. “He was here last year as a bodyguard and decided he wanted to return. So he and a couple of other guys are opening a business. They’re calling it something different, but it’s basically a bodyguard school.”
“A dangerous man. Is he good-looking?”
Patience did her best not to blush. “Yes.”
“So you’ve seen him.”
“He, uh, came over to dinner the other night. You know, to see my mom and stuff.”
Isabel pressed her lips together. “It’s the ‘stuff’ that’s so interesting. You still like him.”
“No. Maybe.” She squirmed on her seat. “Okay, yes. I do. He’s that guy and now he’s all grown up and when I’m with him, I have trouble breathing.”
Something flickered in Isabel’s eyes, then faded away. “That’s an impressive description. And I’m sensing a but.”
Patience nodded. “But why now? While he was in the witness protection program, he couldn’t tell me who he was. Then his dad was captured and sent back to prison. Which meant Justice could do whatever he wanted. Obviously he didn’t want to get in touch with me.”
“Oh.” Isabel straightened. “That’s an excellent point.”
“He did find Ford. They’re friends. Now he’s back and my hormones are singing praises, but I’m telling myself I need to be careful.”
“Yeah, you do. Men aren’t always who they seem.” Isabel reached for another chip. “It’s never easy, is it?”
“No. I’m trying to be calm and adult about the whole thing.” She thought about the kiss and how it had left her weak in the knees. “If he’s opening a business, it’s not like he’s going to disappear again, right?” Because that’s what she couldn’t get past. Him leaving. Every man she’d ever cared about had left.
“It’s a very good sign.”
Patience drew in a breath. “I hope so. And while we’re on the subject of hope, I do have something to tell you about Ford.”
Isabel looked at her. “Which is?”
“He’s going to be here soon. Apparently he’s leaving the military and coming back to Fool’s Gold.”
Isabel opened her mouth, then closed it. “He’ll be in town?”