“I’m getting a divorce.”
Patience stared at the bare ring finger. “No. What happened?”
“Nothing dramatic,” Isabel said, her wide blue eyes filled with sadness, but no tears. “Eric and I are still friends, which is pretty sad. I think the truth is we were always friends. We got along so well we wanted to believe friendship was enough, but it wasn’t.”
“I’m sorry,” Patience said, studying the other woman. There was more, she thought. Something Isabel wasn’t telling her. Not that she was going to push. When her friend was ready, she would get to it.
“Me, 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?”
“That’s the rumor. I don’t have any details or dates.”
“Oh God. No. I can’t face him. I wrote him for years. Not that I’m sure he got my letters or if he did, if he read them, but still.”
“He would have liked your letters.”
“You can’t know that. He probably does think I’m a stalker.” She covered her face with her hands. “I knew coming home would be complicated, but I didn’t think I would have to face Ford.” She dropped her hands to the table. “Is he married?”
“I don’t know.”
“He’s probably married. With six kids, right? And a dog. So I don’t have to worry. He won’t even remember me.”
Patience reached for another chip. “I want to make fun of you, but I can’t, because I know exactly what you’re going through.”
“That makes me feel better. You’ll tell me if you learn anything?”
“Every detail.”
“I’ll do the same for you. Not that I’m expecting to be in the middle of gossip central. When people come to the bridal shop, they tend to be past the dramatic stage of their relationship.” She picked up her soda. “You really think Ford’s married?” She sounded both horrified and hopeful.
“He could be. And I’m sure he’s not nearly as good-looking as he was.”
“Right. He’s old now and uninteresting.” She paused. “You said Justice is hunky.”
Patience held in a sigh. “The hunkiest.”
“Good. One of us should get the great guy.”
“It’s too soon to know if he’s great or not,” Patience said. She wanted to believe he was, of course, but she had no actual evidence.
CHAPTER FIVE
“YOURS IS bigger than mine,” Patience said, walking around the warehouse.
Justice chuckled. No matter the circumstances, she could always make him laugh. “I thought women liked to say size doesn’t matter.”
She looked at him, blushed, then turned away. “I meant your business.”
“I know what you meant. I’m going to be doing different things here. We’ll need the space.”
She walked around the open area. “I guess the good news is you can do anything you want.”
“That’s what I thought. Frame in the walls, build some offices and meeting rooms.”
“A bathroom,” she added. “If your clients are going to be working out, you might want to think about showers.”
He did want to think about showers, but not in the way she meant.
He followed her as she walked around. She wore jeans and another of her decorated T-shirts. This one was pink with rhinestone flamingos sitting at a table, sipping martinis. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but it was pure Patience.
She turned to face him. “You’ve decided? You’re staying?”
He wondered if the truth was that since seeing her, leaving wasn’t an option. “I’m staying.”
“And you’re opening this business with your partners?”
“Ford and Angel.”
“Angel?”
“You haven’t met him yet.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Have you warned him what he’s getting into, coming to a town like this one?”
“He’ll be fine.”
She walked toward him. “You’ve obviously stayed in touch with Ford.”
He nodded, then wondered if her interest was personal rather than general. They’d all been friends together. Ford had spent years in town after he had left. Had they dated? Ford had never said anything, but he didn’t share all that much. Tension tightened the muscles across the back of his shoulders.
“You looking forward to seeing him?” Justice asked.
“Sure.” She paused. “Is he married?”
He didn’t like the question and liked the answer even less. “No. Is that good news?”
She smiled. “It’s always fun when a hometown hero returns. I think his mother and sisters will be more excited.” Her smile turned mischievous. “As for the married thing, you can’t tell anyone, but my friend Isabel is totally freaked out about Ford coming back.”
His muscles relaxed. “She had a thing for him?”
“Big-time. Ford was engaged to her sister. Maeve cheated on him with his best friend and Ford was understandably pissed. He took off and joined the army. Maeve married the best friend. They’re still together. But Ford almost never comes back to visit. When he sees his family, he meets them somewhere else and not very often. Isabel was only fourteen when Ford left and she wrote him for years. Now they’re all grown up and she’s moved back to town. She’s very nervous about seeing him again.” Patience paused. “Is this too much information?”
“No. It’s confusing, but not too much.”
She looked around at the warehouse. “Are you scared?”
“About?”
“Starting a business. I’m terrified. If I think about it too much, I start to doubt myself.” She looked back at him. “My dad took off when I was only a couple of years older than Lillie. He never bothered to stay in touch with me. After he left, it was my mom and me. Then I met Ned and that was a disaster. I was alone and I had Lillie, and my mom invited me back home.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “She was always there for me. The inheritance will help pay the mortgage off. That’s security for both of us. But I have Lillie, and if the coffee shop fails, I will have wasted all that money. Am I being irresponsible, taking on the risk?”