Just One Kiss (Fool's Gold #10)

Patience nodded slowly. Her mother hadn’t been able to climb stairs for a few years now. “You’re thinking of a one-story?”


“Yes. We’ll put in a ramp and wider doors. The master bath will have a shower I can wheel into, that sort of thing. Steve has thought of everything. The kitchen counters will be lower for me so I can still reach them if I’m in my chair. Our plan is I’ll move in with him as soon as we’re married, and then we’ll move into our new house when it’s finished.”

Patience grinned. “You’re not going to live with him before the wedding?”

Ava blushed, then ducked her head. “I wasn’t sure you’d approve.”

“Why would you think that, Mom? I’m pretty sure you know there’s some sneaking around going on upstairs.”

“I have suspected. But that’s different. I’m your mother.”

“You’re a beautiful, vital woman and if you want to move in with the man you love, I say go for it. Lillie won’t mind that her grandparents are living together.”

Ava hugged her. “I love you so much, Patience. You have always been the best part of my life.”

“I love you, too, Mom.” She drew back and grinned. “We can get you a fabulous dress at Paper Moon.”

Her mother shuddered. “That isn’t happening. I’m thinking of a pretty suit, not a wedding gown. Why don’t you and I take Lillie into San Francisco when school gets out? We’ll go for a couple of nights. Stay somewhere by the water and find dresses. Then we’ll have the ceremony right here in the backyard.”

“I love that idea.”

They picked up their wine and toasted again.

“To happy endings,” her mother said.

“To falling in love.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

PATIENCE SAT IN a booth at Jo’s Bar as the sodas and iced teas were passed around. She was still feeling the glow from the previous night’s announcement and was thrilled to be able to share the news with her friends.

Noelle sat by Felicia, with Isabel between them. Patience was next to Felicia.

“It’s all everyone is talking about,” Isabel said with a grin. “I already called your mom and invited her to come and try on gowns.”

“Did she hang up on you?” Patience asked, slipping her straw into her glass of diet soda.

“Nearly. She said she wasn’t interested in anything I had. I pretended to be crushed, which was fun.” Isabel shook her head. “The poor woman still thinks she’s getting away with only you and Lillie at the ceremony.”

“Totally delusional,” Patience agreed. She turned to Felicia and Noelle. “No way that will happen in this town. My mom grew up here. She knows everyone. I think a backyard wedding is a great idea. We can have the reception at Brew-haha, but as for keeping the guest list down to immediate family? No way.”

“Historically, a wedding is as much a contract as a celebration,” Felicia said. “The blending of families was seen as mutually beneficial. Did you know that the female fantasy of being carried off by a handsome stranger can be traced back to times of precivilization when women were stolen by neighboring tribes? The stolen woman provided fresh DNA, which ensured healthier children.”

Noelle sipped her tea. “I can’t wait to see you drunk.”

Felicia stared at her. “Why?”

“I’ll bet you edit about half of what you say. I want to hear the whole thing. You’re so fascinating.”

Felicia shifted, obviously uncomfortable with the compliment. “I know I can be professorial.”

“A little, but it’s fun.” Noelle looked at Patience. “Let me know if you need any help getting things ready for the wedding. I’m at a slow stage with my business. I have the lease signed, but there’s about three weeks’ worth of remodeling that has to be done. I’ve started ordering my inventory, but some items are going to take six weeks. So I have time to run errands or whatever.”

“Thanks,” Patience said. “I’ll let you know. First my mom has to face reality. If she’s getting married in town, she’s going to have a guest list pushing two hundred people. I can’t wait!”

“It’s just plain romantic,” Noelle said with a sigh. “Finding love later in life.”

“It gives us all hope.” Isabel sipped her drink. “So, Patience, was Justice different than what you remembered?”

“His basic character is the same. He’s still sweet and funny.”

Felicia frowned. “Justice?”

“I know there are other sides to him, but I don’t see them as much.”

“Unless these two are keeping secrets,” Isabel said, “you’re going to have to have a relationship for all of us. My marriage disaster isn’t anything I want to risk repeating.”

“I’m recovering from a broken engagement,” Noelle said.

They all looked at her.

“I’m sorry,” Felicia said. “I didn’t know.”