Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)(62)

“Don’t worry about it,” Patience told her.

“I feel like an idiot. I was sick to my stomach the next couple of days, so I guess I was coming down with something. I just feel horrible for how I acted.”

“Don’t. You’ve got a lot going on.”

Pia nodded. “You’re sweet. I’m never like that.”

Patience faced her. “Pia, stop. You had a bad day. It happens. I’m fine, really.”

“Good.” The other woman smiled. “I’m glad you want to be a part of the festivals and everything else going on in town. I’ve added you to our email list. There’s a chat group for local businesses. I’ve put you on that. We’re not that active. More information sharing than social.”

“I appreciate that. I’ll do my best not to share any emotional ups and downs and stick with town business.”

Pia laughed, then hugged her. “Perfect. Thank you so much for understanding. And congratulations. Oh, look. It’s time.”

Mayor Marsha had arrived. She walked to the podium and stepped up so she was facing the crowd. Patience hovered, not sure what to do, then walked toward her when the mayor beckoned.

As the chimes from a nearby church clock struck the hour, the crowd grew quiet. Mayor Marsha stepped up to the microphone and smiled at the throng of waiting people.

“Welcome to the grand opening of Brew-haha,” the mayor said. “There are many satisfying elements of being mayor of Fool’s Gold. In addition to my traditional civic duties, I have the pleasure of welcoming every baby born in town and being at the start of grand adventures like this one.”

She paused while people applauded. Ava came up and stood next to Patience. The two women linked arms.

“I’m so excited,” her mother whispered. “And so proud of you.”

“I’m proud of both of us.”

Mayor Marsha glanced toward them. “I remember when Patience was born,” she went on. “I was there to greet her.” She paused. “Not at the exact moment of birth. Ava needed her privacy.”

Everyone laughed.

“As a child, Patience was a sweet girl who was very much a part of our community. Ava was always there for her daughter. She worked hard, gave back to the town and now the two of them are opening this business together. Patience and Ava, you are both an integral part of this community.”

Patience had to blink against the sudden burning in her eyes.

“Now you’ve gone and done something grand,” the mayor continued. “Taken your dream and made it into a reality. I am delighted to have Brew-haha as one of the premier businesses in Fool’s Gold. Congratulations to Patience and Ava.”

Two city council members stretched out a wide length of ribbon. Charity Golden, the city planner, handed the mayor a large pair of scissors. The mayor stepped down from the podium and cut the ribbon. Everyone applauded.

“Speech! Speech!”

Patience looked at her mother. Ava nudged her toward the podium. “You’ve done all the hard work, kid. It’s up to you.”

Patience couldn’t remember ever addressing a group formally before and didn’t like the sudden leapfrogging in her stomach. But she stepped up to the microphone and looked at all her friends and neighbors.

“Thanks for coming,” she said, her voice shaking a little. She drew in a breath. “I love living here and I’m so excited to be able to open this store with my mom. We couldn’t have done it without you and without Great-Aunt Becky, who basically funded this.”

“That’s my mom!”

Patience saw Lillie pointing at her and laughed. Her gaze was drawn to the doorway to the store. Justice stepped out. He looked at her and offered a smile, as well. Only there was something wrong with his expression. Or maybe it was his eyes.

He was even paler than he had been, she realized. He was holding his arm against his side.

She knew she had to finish her minispeech, but couldn’t rip her gaze away from him to focus. Not when he seemed to stagger slightly. His arm dropped and she saw blood seeping through his white shirt. A lot of blood.

He started to speak, then went down like a rock.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

THERE WAS SOMETHING about the smell of a hospital, Justice thought as he lay on the bed and watched the IV bag drip slowly as fluids were replaced. No, he thought with a grimace, the color coming into focus. Blood. He would guess two pints. He’d lost a lot when he’d been shot and even more at the grand opening. Which had been when, exactly? Earlier today? Yesterday? He wasn’t sure how long he’d been out of it.

He knew he was in Fool’s Gold. He’d made it just in time for the grand opening. He also knew that checking himself out of the hospital in D.C. had been a calculated risk. One that hadn’t worked out.

The last thing he remembered before he collapsed was seeing a man in the crowd. A man who looked exactly like his father. One second he’d been there and the next second he’d been gone. Justice didn’t need a doctor to tell him that too much exertion, not to mention blood loss, had played tricks on his mind.

“You’re awake.”

He turned toward the voice and saw Patience had walked into his room. She looked tired and worried—both of which were his fault.

“Hey,” he said. “Sorry to screw up the party.”