Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(30)

“Uh-huh. He says he wants to have a relationship with Lillie.”

Patience braced herself for the rant. Ava had dealt with men abandoning her more than once in her life. First her father had cut and run on his family; then her husband had played the same disappearing game. She’d had to watch the same thing happen to her daughter.

No doubt Ava would have several not-very-nice things to say about Ned’s father. After all, Steve had also left his family. There was an epidemic of men who weren’t in it for the long haul.

“How was he?” her mother asked instead.

Patience shrugged. “He was quiet. Pleasant. He apologized for what he’d done to Ned and for how Ned had treated Lillie and me. He says he’s a changed man and wants a second chance with his granddaughter.”

“Do you believe him?”

“I don’t know. I’d only met him once before. Ned never had anything good to say about him, but he’s hardly someone I’d trust as far as judging character goes. I asked Justice to check him out.”

Her mother’s expression was unreadable. “That’s a sensible solution. Justice will find out if he has any issues we need to be concerned about.”

Patience waited. “That’s it? You’re not going to call him an SOB or tell me to grab Lillie and run?”

“People change.”

“You think Steve has changed?”

Ava shifted in her seat. “I’m not sure. I’m just saying he might mean what he says. Time has a way of making things more clear. For some people, that means dealing with regrets. If Steve is genuine, then you might want to take him seriously.”

Patience was less sure. “I don’t want Lillie to get hurt. She never talks about her dad, but I know she thinks about him. Her friends have fathers. Even the ones with divorced parents still see their dads. She never has. He’s just gone and he’s not coming back. It would be different if he’d died—then his absence wouldn’t be a choice. What if Steve hasn’t changed? What if he sees her a few times and then disappears?”

“Maybe he wouldn’t.”

“You’re taking his side.”

“I’m saying you need more information.”

Patience didn’t understand. It almost felt as if there was something her mother wasn’t telling her.

“I’m going to wait to hear what Justice has to say,” she told her mother. “If he clears Steve, then I’ll consider letting him meet Lillie. Otherwise, there’s no way he’s getting close to my daughter.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

JO’S BAR WAS one of those places unique to Fool’s Gold. Decorated in female-friendly colors, with TVs turned to shopping networks and fun reality TV, the place catered to the women in town. There were plenty of low-calorie choices on the menu, a play area for toddlers during lunch and a complete lack of single guys on the prowl. While men were welcome, they tended to avoid Jo’s Bar. If they did show up, they migrated to the back room where they could find a pool table and smaller TVs with professional sports playing.

Patience walked in and saw her friends at the table by the back wall. Usually they settled in one of the large booths, but with Annabelle due to give birth at any second, and Heidi about seven months along, sliding into a booth had become complicated.

“How are you?” she asked as she approached.

“Huge,” Annabelle said.

The petite redhead did look uncomfortably large, Patience thought as she hugged her. Heidi was a little taller and carrying a bit less baby.

“I’m good,” Heidi said with a smile.

“She’s serene,” Charlie announced. “It’s kind of annoying.”

“I’m in the Zen part of my pregnancy.” Heidi laughed. “Very one with the universe.”

Heidi was a pretty blonde who lived on the Castle Ranch just outside town. Charlie was a local firefighter. Strong, tall and possibly the least girlie woman Patience had met. She was attractive, but had an air of competence that scared off most men.

Last year the three friends had fallen in love with the Stryker brothers. As their friend, Patience had had a front-row seat to all the excitement, heartache and ultimately the happy endings.

Now she took one of the remaining chairs and hung her purse on the back. “I invited a friend of mine to join us. I hope that’s okay.”

Charlie leaned toward her. “You know that’s perfectly fine. We like a big crowd. It keeps the conversation lively. Who is she?”

“Her name is Isabel Beebe. Her family has owned Paper Moon forever. She’s been living in New York for the past few years, but is back for a while. Her parents want to sell the store. Isabel is going to run it and get it ready for sale.”

Annabelle’s eyes filled with tears. “She’s selling Paper Moon? But I was going to get my dress there. It’s a Fool’s Gold institution. I want to be part of an institution.”

“More like you need to be locked away in one,” Charlie muttered, rubbing Annabelle’s back. “Come on. Take a few breaths. You’re very emotional. It’s the hormones. Nothing is really wrong.”

Annabelle sniffed a couple of times. “I can’t help it. I cry at everything.”

Heidi patted her hand. “Charlie’s right. Try breathing.”