Hidden Summit (Virgin River #17)(70)

“No problem, we’ll do it another time,” she said. “Is everything all right?”

“I’m not sure. My ex-husband showed up again. He’s a complete pest. But I need to talk to my mother about him. My mom is kind of…well…opinionated would be a mild description. I think she might have some advice for me. I’ll be sure to let you know.”

“I saw the car,” Nora said. “Wow.”

“It’s a very pretty car,” Leslie confirmed. “It’s not making him at all happy right now. But it used to. Things like clothes, cars, country-club memberships, all that stuff used to get him all excited. Not me,” she said. “Never me.”

Leslie hadn’t exactly lied to Conner, but there was a little more to her agenda than a nice visit with her mother. She called her mother on Friday morning and said, “I hope you don’t have really big weekend plans because I need you on Saturday—I want to come up to Grants Pass.”

“Sure, darling,” Candace said. “We have a kickboxing class in the afternoon, but we can miss it, I suppose.”

“Kickboxing?”

“You just can’t imagine how much fun it is. There’s a group of us who go to the community center for the class. And you know what? We’re not terrible!”

“I’m not at all surprised. But listen—I’m having issues with Greg. He is still bothering me. He was down here again. Can you do a little detective work for me? Make a phone call or two? I’d like to see Allison. Can you call her and maybe set something up? I’ll meet her wherever, but I have to talk to her about Greg, who is driving me crazy. And I’d like to talk to her alone. Tell her it’s very personal and important.”

“Sweetheart, what is it?” Candace asked.

“It’s just that I don’t understand myself, Mom. How did I not notice this about him for the eight years of our marriage? Does the whole town think I’m just an idiot? And why didn’t I know I was being used?”

“Oh, crap, Leslie—you’re overthinking the whole thing. The ‘town’ thinks you were the best thing that every happened to Greg Adams and he was a damn fool to let you get away! As for Allison, I doubt she’ll confirm that for you. But I’ll call her and try to set up an appointment with her. Maybe you can meet her at the mall or something. Get it all off your chest, then we’ll go out for sushi.”

“Sushi?” Leslie asked.

“We just started eating sushi. It’s wonderful. Don’t you think?”

She just shook her head. “Be sure to tell Allison I’m not upset or anything—I’m very happy in my new life. I just want to…check in with her. Tell her I have a baby gift. And it’s girl stuff—not for Greg! I won’t take much of her time.”

But when Leslie got to Grants Pass, what her mother had arranged for her came as quite the surprise. “Well, she wasn’t very receptive to this idea, nor was she impressed by the baby gift. Do you actually have one?”

“Not yet, but I can get one on my way to see her.”

“I bought you one to give her. I had it gift wrapped. And to be classy, I also bought a gift for the mother—some lotions.”

“You are the best,” Leslie said.

“What’s bothering you?”

“I’m not sure. I’m afraid there’s a part of me that still loves Greg. I hate that, but…”

“Phhhttt,” Candace said, giving her hand an impatient wave. “I saw that godlike man in your house. And I got to know him a little. Funny, smart, attentive… You can’t be pining for Greg!”

“Okay,” Leslie said, “this time are you telling the truth? Or in ten years are you going to tell me you never liked Conner in the first place?”

“Absolutely not! At least not unless he screws up and hurts my little girl. Now, hurry and put on some fresh makeup. Look your best. You’re meeting Allison at Premier Nails on Nineteenth. She’s getting a mani-pedi at noon.”

“No way,” Leslie said.

“That or nothing, honey. She wasn’t exactly easy to persuade. She said she has nothing to say to you. She was rather bitchy.”

“What’s up with that?” Leslie asked her mother. “She won! How can she be mad at me?”

“I’m sure by the time we get to sushi, we’ll have at least some of the answers. Now get going!” Candace looked her over. “Don’t you have something nicer than jeans to wear?”

“I have a fresher pair of jeans, but that’s it.”

“Well,” Candace said. “Whatever.”

The nail salon was crowded, it being Saturday. The owner immediately asked if he could help her, and she shook her head. She lifted the gift bag. “I’m just here to see someone.” And she craned her neck, trying to spot Allison.

Fortunately she was in the back of the room, sitting in a large, leather chair that reclined slightly, soaking her feet in the pedi whirlpool tub. Her eyes were closed—ah, clearly unstressed about this meeting. And her pregnant belly was huge. She wore a red sundress with spaghetti straps and some kind of pattern in blue and green—very bright. Her thick blond hair was pulled back and held with a headband, as though she might be getting a facial today, as well.