Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(44)

“I suppose New York is exciting,” she said slowly.

Isabel laughed. “You’re are such a country mouse, and I say that with love. I can’t see you living anywhere else.”

“Me, either. Isn’t it hard to make friends and figure out where everything is?”

“Yes, but that’s what makes it exciting. The city is big and loud and crazy and I enjoy that.” She took another sip of her soda. “But I’ll admit, it’s nice to be here, even for a few months.”

“Getting away from what happened?”

Isabel’s blue eyes darkened with a flash of pain. “Eric and I are still friends, but I don’t care how friendly a divorce is. It’s not something easy to go through.”

“Have you talked to him much?”

“A few times. I’m not sure what to say.” She looked at Patience. “I’m actually not surprised we split up, and yet I’m completely shocked. I don’t know if that makes sense.”

Patience suspected in her heart she’d known something was wrong. But living a divorce was completely different from guessing there was a problem in the relationship.

“You’re still healing,” Patience said. “The cliché about time happens to be true. After Ned left, I didn’t think I would ever recover. But I did. Now I can’t imagine what it was I saw in him.”

“I’ll get there, too,” Isabel said. “At least I hope so. It’s just some days I feel so pathetic. When some excited, bright-eyed bride-to-be walks in the store, I can’t help wondering if she’ll still be married to the guy in twenty years or if she’ll be a statistic, too.” She sighed. “Okay, I’ve officially become the depressing friend. I don’t want that.”

“You’re still healing. Give yourself a break.”

Isabel managed a smile. “What? You’re saying beating myself up isn’t the quickest way to a happier tomorrow?”

“Not even close. You’ve temporarily left New York. Take advantage of that. Lose yourself in the quaint, small-town gooeyness that is Fool’s Gold. Go to a festival. Gain five pounds from eating locally made goat cheese. Seduce a handsome tourist.”

“Not sure I’m up to that last suggestion, but the others sound fun.”

Patience drank some of her soda. “You’re not ready for transition guy?”

“Not even close.” Isabel studied her. “I can’t see you having one, either. Not with a child to worry about.”

Patience was too embarrassed to admit there hadn’t been a man in her life since Ned left. “No transitional man for me, either. I was busy with Lillie, and now it’s been too long. But I do like the theory.” She grinned. “Ford is coming home any day now. What about him? You had a huge crush on him years ago. Maybe he’s still gorgeous and sexy.”

Isabel’s expression brightened. “If only that were true. You promised he wouldn’t be.” She sighed, obviously remembering. “I was so insanely in love with him.”

“The love of a fourteen-year-old girl is very special.”

Isabel laughed. “I hope he saw it that way rather than as something he had to escape.” Her smile turned rueful. “Of course, my sister had just dumped him, so I doubt he had much time to think about my feelings. He was too busy wrestling with his own.”

Patience had been only a couple of years older than Isabel, but even she remembered the scandal. Ford had been engaged to Maeve, Isabel’s older and very beautiful sister. Only a few weeks before the wedding, he’d caught Maeve in bed with his best friend, Leonard. Words and possibly blows had been exchanged. Maeve had been apologetic, but refused to give up Leonard. The engagement had been broken and Ford had left town. He’d joined the navy, had become a SEAL and until recently had pretty much never returned.

There had been the one or two weekends when he’d been spotted around town, but mostly he’d seen his family in other places. Patience wasn’t sure if that was a logistical choice or if he’d been avoiding Maeve. Either way, after close to fourteen years, he was coming home now.

“Maybe he kept all your letters,” Patience said, her voice teasing. “Read them when things were tough.”

Isabel laughed. “Sure he did. Because hearing about my life was so special. I just hope I edited myself and didn’t dump on him, emotionally. High school is never pretty, and I don’t think telling him about my experiences would have been very entertaining.”

Patience leaned toward her and lowered her voice. “Or they could have been extremely entertaining.”

Isabel winced. “Oh God. You’re right. I remember going to a prom with a guy named Warren. There was no happy ending.” She picked up her soda. “I’m sure I didn’t mention that.”

“You could get on the welcome committee,” Patience told her. “Be one of the first to greet him.”

“There’s a welcome committee?”

“Not that I’ve heard of, but who knows what this town will do? Ford is a returning hero.”

“He’s going to hate hearing that over and over again.”

“You could comfort him.”

Isabel sighed. “Stop trying to throw us together. The man isn’t even home yet.”