“He was president, which isn’t exactly the same thing. It seems sales weren’t as good as he had led the board of directors to believe. He’d also been stealing money for years. Not telling the employees was one thing, but not telling the IRS is another. He was charged with tax evasion, fraud, theft. I can’t remember everything. My mom took off for Florida. I wanted to stay here and finish high school. She agreed. When I graduated, she said, after what she’d been through, it would be better if I learned to stand on my own.”
Liz didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry.” Her own mother hadn’t been a prize, but at least she’d grown up used to it. Pia’s mother had done an about-face at the worst time in a young girl’s life. That made things worse. “What about your dad?”
“He killed himself the day before the trial started.”
Liz dropped her fork onto the table. “Pia. I’m so sorry.”
“It was a long time ago.”
“That can’t make it any easier to deal with.”
The other woman looked at her and smiled slightly. “It makes it easier to forget. Besides, I was a real bitch in high school. Maybe I earned it.”
“No. You didn’t. I really am sorry.”
“Sorry enough to let the whole naked-with-Ethan thing go?”
Liz nodded. “I was never really angry at you.”
“I’m a safer target than Ethan. Right?”
Liz shrugged. “And you’re also insightful. That’s annoying.”
Pia’s smile turned genuine. “This is probably where we say we’re going to start over and really be friends.”
Liz thought about everything going on in her life. How there wasn’t anyone she could talk to. How nice it would be to have someone on her side.
“I’d like that,” she admitted.
“Me, too.”
Pia sighed. “You need to give the town a chance. I know things have been rough, but the people here will support you, if you give it time.”
“No, thanks. I’m not buying into the theory of small-town bliss.”
“Maybe we’ll change your mind.”
“Maybe hell will freeze over.”
Pia laughed. “You never know.”
CHAPTER TEN
AFTER A FEW DAYS, LIZ SETTLED into a routine. The construction crew showed up every morning and made impressive progress on the house—a fact that surprised her. She had wondered if Ethan had told his people to go slow, but he obviously hadn’t. The kids settled into the rhythm of day camp, taking the bus up the mountain every morning and riding it back down every afternoon.
They all loved their programs, especially Melissa, who had already spent two evenings online checking out the USC Film School. Ethan had seen Tyler twice, which she encouraged. He’d also tried to talk to her, which she’d resisted. Despite his apology, she was still hurt by what he’d said to his mother. The honest assessment that she didn’t matter shouldn’t have been a surprise, but knowing that didn’t take away the sting of the words.
He was a weakness. Here, in town, on a sunny morning as she walked by the lake, she could admit the truth. There was something about Ethan. Maybe because he was the first man she’d ever loved, ever been with. Maybe because they had a child together. Whatever the reason, he could get to her in a way no one else could. Around him, she was vulnerable. Which made him dangerous.
Avoiding him might not be the most mature response, but it was the safest.
Liz glanced at her watch. She’d had a productive writing morning and had rewarded herself with this walk. But now it was time to head back to her computer and review the pages she’d written. To make them better, sharper.
She took the path leading back to town, thinking that she could stop for a latte. The caffeine would perk her up and give her the energy she needed to push through the pages. She’d barely made it to the corner when someone called her name. She turned and saw Montana waving.
While Ethan might not be one of her favorite people at the moment, Liz found herself smiling as Montana approached. Ethan’s sister was unfailingly cheerful and enthused. There were days when a little enthusiasm was the best gift possible.
“Taking a break?” Montana asked as she approached. “I’m desperate for coffee. I was up all night reading. It’s so hard when a book is great, you know? So great you can’t stop reading even though it’s late and your eyes are burning.”
“It’s the best compliment any writer can ask for,” Liz told her. “Come on. I’ll buy you a latte.”
They got their coffee, then sat in the shade on the small patio outside Starbucks.
“My mother hates you,” Montana stated cheerfully. “Okay—maybe hate is too strong, but she’s still going off on rants about you.”
Liz held in a groan. “Thanks for the update.”
“Don’t worry about it. She starts out feeling sad about how everyone said really bad things about you in high school. She has three daughters and knows if anyone had talked about us that way, it would have broken her heart. Then she admits it would have been tough to raise a kid on her own and how you did such a great job. Then she starts in on the fact that you would have been welcome in her house and all she missed and then she’s throwing pots and we’re ducking for cover.”
Liz winced. “You have a gift for making things come alive.”