“I didn’t ask you because…” His voice trailed off.
She raised her head and looked at him. He seemed more uncomfortable than embarrassed. And then she got it.
For all her claims that she knew he was leaving, that all this was temporary, she’d assumed what they had together was still some kind of relationship. That they were together. A couple.
That wasn’t the way it was for Simon. She was a convenience, someone he wanted and maybe liked a little, but no one significant. She’d been worried about whether or not he would miss her when he left. That was the least of it. What she should be more worried about was whether or not he gave a damn about being with her while he was here.
Her chest tightened and her throat began to close. She recognized the symptoms and knew she didn’t have much time.
She looked up and gave him what she hoped was a startled expression. “Oh, no. I just realized I’m supposed to be meeting Max. I can’t believe it. I need to hurry or I’ll be late.”
She fumbled in her purse and threw a twenty on the table. “Sorry.”
“Montana.” He rose when she did.
She waved him back in place. “No. Please. Eat your lunch. This is my fault. I’m so scattered.”
She offered a frantic little wave, then dashed out of the restaurant.
Terrified he would follow her and demand to talk, she ducked into the closest store, then out the back, so she was standing alone in the alley. It was only then that she allowed herself to begin to cry.
“I KNOW IT’S NOT MUCH,” Nevada was saying as she paced back and forth in Montana’s living room, a puppy in each arm, dodging the other two as she walked. “But I swear it was a moment.”
Montana was still dealing with her luncheon revelation, so she was having a little trouble following Nevada’s story.
“You saw Mom at the tasting room place outside of town, and she ran off when she saw Max? Are you sure those two events are linked? Maybe she was late for something or the date had been really bad.”
“I thought of that.” Nevada sank into the chair opposite the sofa. “But there was that second when they saw each other. Mom went completely white. I was afraid she would pass out or something. And Max froze. I’m telling you, he’s the Max. Your Max is her Max.”
Her mother and Max Thurman? “No. I can’t believe that. I’ve worked for Max for a year and she’s never said a word about him. It’s not like I don’t talk about my job or my boss.”
“Hasn’t Max lived here before?”
“Sure, but not for years. He left before we were born.”
Nevada gave her a “See!” look.
“You’re inventing drama where it doesn’t exist,” Montana told her.
“I don’t think so. Look at the facts. Mom has the name Max tattooed on her hip. We don’t know much about him, except he used to live in the area, but not in town. He left before Mom and Dad got married. Max Thurman moves back to Fool’s Gold after being gone over thirty years. He’s mysterious.”
“He’s not mysterious,” Montana said, interrupting. “He’s a nice guy.”
“Where does he get his money? Doesn’t he finance all the work the therapy dogs do?”
“We get some donations, but yes, Max pays for most of it. So, he’s rich.”
“From what? Did he inherit? Rob a bank? Make great investments?”
“We don’t talk about that.”
“But he did live here before. Seriously, Montana, how many guys around Mom’s age who once lived in town are named Max? I’m telling you, he’s the one.”
“I’m not sure I want him to be,” she admitted. “It’s weird to think at one time she loved a man enough to get his name tattooed on her body and then she met Dad.”
Bentley scrambled into her lap. She patted him absently.
“But you said Max was nice,” Nevada pressed.
“He is. I like him a lot. I wouldn’t mind if he and Mom got together. I just hate thinking she loved someone else. You know, before.”
“Because Dad should be her one true love?”
“Yes.”
“Why would knowing who Max is change that?”
“Maybe it doesn’t.” Her mother was allowed to have a past. Everyone did. “You know what—if they’re the same Max, then this could be really interesting, right?”
Nevada sighed. “Sorry. Why didn’t I see it before?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You. There’s something wrong. Is it Simon? Did something happen?”
“No. Nothing happened. That’s the problem.”
“I thought you’d slept together.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sex doesn’t solve problems, it starts them.”
“Which means something happened.”
“I knew he was leaving. I’ve known from the beginning. Despite Mayor Marsha’s request that I convince him to stay, we all know that’s not going to happen.” She cuddled a sleepy Bentley. “But I was okay with that. I haven’t been attracted to someone in a while. I liked being with him and how I felt around him. So the leaving part was simply something I had to deal with.”