Fool's Gold Collection Volume 4: Halfway There / Just One Kiss / Two of a Kind / Three Little Words. Susan Mallery
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this bright, warm, spring morning, he stood on the fringes of the crowd and listened to Patience explain her plan.
“There’s a master list posted by the door,” she said, pointing to the brightly colored paper with a long list of projects. “Supplies are in the center of the room, on the tarp. Once a project is finished, please cross it out so everyone else will know it’s finished.”
She’d pulled her long, wavy hair back into a ponytail. Her T-shirt was red with a cartoon cat on the front. She looked about seventeen. All fresh-scrubbed and pretty.
He knew that Lillie was spending the day with friends and that Ava had been having trouble lately. She would be using a wheelchair. He knew the color of paint in the cans and what was on the list, but he was still separate from what was going on. Watching rather than participating.
It was how he preferred things. Only with Patience he was in deeper than was comfortable for him. Still, pulling back didn’t seem to be an option.
“Ethan and Nevada have brought tools,” Patience continued. “She’s in charge of construction. If you’re feeling the need to pound a hammer, go see her.”
A man groaned. Justice would guess he was Ethan. A tall blond guy punched him in the arm.
“Your sister is in charge, dude. Talk about humiliating.”
Ethan turned to his friend. “You notice she didn’t mention you having tools, Josh. You want to think about what that means?”
Josh laughed.
“Thank you again for coming,” Patience said. “I really appreciate it.”
“We’re all here for you,” someone called.
There were murmurs of agreement; then the crowd broke up and people started to go to work.
A tall, lithe blonde walked over to Justice and stared at him.
“Okay,” she said with a sigh. “I give up. I can’t remember your name. I’m Evie Stryker. I moved here last year and I’m still figuring out who is who.” She held out her hand. “I teach dance, if you have any daughters.”
They shook hands.
“No daughters,” he said. “I know Patience’s daughter, Lillie.”
“She’s in one of my classes. Sweet girl.” Evie looked around the room. “So, that’s Dante over there. My fiancé. And those three guys wrestling over who has the biggest paintbrush are my brothers.” She shook her head. “Okay, never mind. It’s too much. This town. The people are too friendly and they know every little thing about everyone’s life. It’s crazy. Seriously, you should get out now while you can.”
“I don’t see you leaving.”
“They caught me at a weak moment and now I can’t imagine living anywhere else. They suck you in.”
“I spent some time here as a kid.”
“And you came back, thus proving my point.”
“There you are!”
Justice turned and found himself face-to-face with Denise Hendrix. She hugged him, then smiled broadly.
“I’m still so excited you’re here, Justice. And that Ford is coming back. Did I invite you over to dinner yet? You have to come as soon as Ford is home. We’ll have the whole family over.”
“I remember those dinners,” he said, thinking those were good memories. “It was loud.”
With six kids plus any friends they’d brought home sitting around the table, there had been plenty of conversation. The Hendrix house had been one of the few places he’d been cleared to visit. Patience’s house had been on the list, as well. He’d wanted to go as often as possible. Being around other families had allowed him to forget why he was on the run. Around them he could pretend he was just like everyone else.
“We still have a wonderful time,” Denise told him. “It’s a little more crowded with spouses and grandchildren, but that only makes our times together more wonderful.”
He bent down and kissed her cheek. “I can’t wait.”
“Good.”
Denise excused herself.
Justice was about to go join a work group when he saw Ava roll into the busy space. Her wheelchair moved easily over the hardwood floors. He saw her glance around as if unsure what she was supposed to do. He quickly moved toward her.
“Taking charge?” he asked as he approached.
She gave him a grateful smile. “I think Patience is doing a good job already. I just wanted to stop by and see the town coming through for my girl.”
“There are plenty of people here.”
Patience hurried over. “Hey, Mom. Doing okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Patience didn’t look convinced. Justice nodded toward Ava. “I’m happy to stay here,” he said. “It gets me out of the real work.”
Her gaze lingered for a second. “Thank you,” she mouthed silently. “Okay,” she said aloud. “I’m not even surprised. Typical guy enjoying the act of watching other people work.”
He pulled up a chair and settled next to Ava. The older woman’s gaze was speculative.
“You want to keep an eye on what’s going on and you’re using me to do it.”
“Maybe,” he said easily.
“Not maybe. You’re different, Justice. Time has passed, so of course you’ve grown up, but that’s not the only change, is it?”
He automatically stayed outwardly calm, even as he glanced at Ava. “Are you asking or stating an opinion?”
“Both.” She studied him. “You went into the military after your father was taken into custody.”
He nodded.
“Whatever you did was dangerous. Patience and I have speculated, but I’m sure we won’t be able to guess.”
“Probably not.”
“You’ve seen things.”
More than she could ever know.
“Now you’re going to open your school here.”
He chuckled. “It’s not a school.”
“You know what I mean.” She leaned toward him. “Can you do it? Settle in a small town?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I want to be here.”
It was an honest answer, he thought. As much as the town drew him, he was concerned about fitting in. He could fake his way through any situation for a period of time. But in the end, who he was would come out.
He’d done things no man should be able to live with. Yet, as Ava had said, here he was. There were questions he couldn’t answer. Like how much of his father lived in him? Could he escape Bart’s cruel influence? Would he end up hurting the people he cared about? He’d never taken the risk. It hadn’t been worth it. He’d always been content to move on. But now he was starting to think he wanted to stay.
“Where does Patience fit in your decision?” Ava asked.
“She’s a draw. I never forgot her.”
“You’re both different people now.”
“She’s not so different.” She was older, more beautiful. But the essence of her remained. The sweetness, the humor, the unique worldview that, in her case, came out through her wardrobe of cute T-shirts.
“What are you afraid of?” Ava asked.
He turned to her. “That I’ll hurt her.”