“Enjoying a little new-boyfriend fun?” Dellina asked, then slapped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”
Isabel shook her head and smiled. “No. Don’t be sorry. We are going to drink to my friend and her official relationship with Kent. Because I love you enough to want you to be happy.”
Consuelo hugged her. “I can seriously hurt Ford, if you want. I know his vulnerabilities.”
“Maybe later,” Isabel said, determined to get through the evening without humiliating herself.
Her house was filled with people who obviously cared about her. Whatever she needed, they would provide. She only had to ask. They would be here for her. She was lucky. She only wished it was enough.
Taryn—still stunning in tight-fitting jeans, a silk blouse and boots—strolled over. “I’m confused. I was told to show up, but the reason is unclear.”
“Ford dumped her,” Charlie said. “He’s such an idiot.”
Taryn sat on the coffee table in front of Isabel. “Seriously? I’ve seen you two together. I would swear he was completely into you.”
“I think he was,” Isabel said, not sure if talking about it made her feel better or worse. “We were having a great time together. I’m the one who changed the rules.”
“Did he freak out when he learned you were staying?” Taryn asked. “Men are so damned delicate. I swear, you wouldn’t believe the trouble I have with the boys.”
“That was part of it.” Isabel drew in a breath. Maybe if she told them what had happened, she could begin to heal the gaping hole in her chest.
“I told him I loved him.”
The room went quiet. She felt everyone looking at her. She drew in a breath and continued.
“I wrote him letters from the time I was fourteen until I was twenty-four. He was in the military, and I thought I loved him, so I wrote letters. They were silly. I was a kid, and he never answered. But writing them kept him alive in my head, if that makes sense.”
Patience nodded. “Of course it does. I’m sure he appreciated them.”
“I don’t know. He kept them. I found them the other day. They were worn, as if he’d read them a hundred times.”
Several women sighed.
“I realized I belonged here. In Fool’s Gold and with Ford. So I told him I wasn’t leaving and that I was in love with him. And then he left.”
She felt the first tear slip down her cheek.
Consuelo grabbed her free hand. “What did he say?”
“Nothing. He turned and left without a word.”
“I raised him better than that.”
Isabel pulled her hand free and wiped her face, then looked up to see Denise Hendrix walking toward her. Ford’s sisters were with his mother, and they all looked sad and upset.
“I’m sorry,” Denise said. “I heard what happened. I hope you don’t mind me coming to see you.”
“No, of course not.” It was a little strange, but Isabel had enough rum slushie in her not to worry about a detail like that.
Denise took a chair close to the sofa. “I’m sorry for not believing you. I didn’t think you and Ford really were seeing each other. I thought it was an elaborate scheme so I’d stop bugging him.”
Isabel’s eyes widened. “It was,” she admitted.
Denise looked more pleased than upset. “I knew it!” She sighed. “Now I know why you were avoiding me and our tea. Your excuses were starting to get elaborate.” She patted Isabel’s arm. “I have six children. It takes a lot to fool me.”
“I’m sorry,” Isabel murmured, fighting tears again. “I should have come to see you while I still could. Now I’m not with Ford and...” She held in a sob.
Denise hugged her. “I’m sorry my son is an idiot.”
“Me, too.”
“None of this would have happened if the three of you hadn’t bugged him about getting married,” Nevada muttered. “Now Isabel’s hurt and Ford is gone.”
Isabel turned to Consuelo. “He’s gone?”
Her friend shifted on the sofa. “Not permanently. He took a couple of days off. He said he needed to clear his head.” Consuelo looked at her. “He’ll be back.”
“Ford is unlikely to walk away from the business,” Felicia offered. “He enjoys his work. He’s settled into the town. I’m surprised he would leave you. From the empirical evidence, I would think he was very fond of you.” She paused. “Am I not helping?”
Isabel started to laugh. “You’re helping a lot. All of you.”
She had this, she reminded herself. Her friends, who loved her. Family, a business she was excited about. As for Ford, she would get over him. Eventually.
* * *
Three Little Words (Fool's Gold #12)
Susan Mallery's books
- A Christmas Bride
- Just One Kiss
- Chasing Perfect (Fool's Gold #1)
- Almost Perfect (Fool's Gold #2)
- Sister of the Bride (Fool's Gold #2.5)
- Finding Perfect (Fool's Gold #3)
- Only Mine (Fool's Gold #4)
- Only Yours (Fool's Gold #5)
- Only His (Fool's Gold #6)
- Only Us (Fool's Gold #6.1)
- Almost Summer (Fool's Gold #6.2)