again. Liz propped the broom against the wall. “No, I didn’t ask. Thanks to you, we talked mostly about me.”
The hand holding the trowel stopped moving, then began to scrape along the mended Sheetrock. “What’d he want to know?”
She gathered up the ceiling tiles they’d torn down. “Like everyone else, he was curious to know how you managed to get away with having two families for so long. And how you and I could still be friends.”
“That’s none of his business,” Keith snapped.
Liz ignored his response. “But he’s not as generous as some people,” she continued. “He seems to think I’m a fool for not realizing I was being duped.”
“Then, it didn’t go well between you.”
That was all that registered from what she’d shared? Closing her eyes, Liz shook her head. “No,” she finally admitted. “It didn’t go well.”
“Good. Maybe, even though he’s big, as in muscular and well built, I won’t be as easy to replace as you thought.”
“Keith—”
He lifted his arms as if her pointed stare was a gun. “That’s all I’m saying.”
“You’ve said it before. As much as I wish it wasn’t so, it’s too late for us.”
“With a little forgiveness, it doesn’t have to be,” he murmured.
The look on his face might have stirred something inside her once. It had been a long time since he’d touched her—since any man had touched her. In a way, she wanted to turn back the days and months, to feel the old excitement. But as handsome as Keith was, she had so little feeling left for him.
“Thanks for fixing the wall,” she said. “I’d better go pick up the kids.”
Keith let her slip out without saying another word, for which she was grateful, relieved. But when she reached her brother and sister-in-law’s small farm, she found the porch light on and a note taped to the door.
Liz—We’re at my parents’. Stop by, okay?
“Great,” she grumbled, crushing the paper in her hand. She was going to have to give an account of her date to Senator Holbrook and his wife before she could take her children home.
CHAPTER TWO
WHEN LIZ REACHED the Holbrooks’, she saw a metallic-blue Jaguar parked next to Isaac and Reenie’s minivan. The Jag was a beautiful vehicle, and one that always garnered attention. Which was why she immediately recognized it.
She would have turned around on the spot and headed in the other direction, if not for her daughter, Mica, and Reenie’s middle daughter, Angela. They were playing in the hanging swing on the front porch and had already spotted her.
“Mom!” Mica called, running down to the sidewalk, waving. “We were wondering when you’d get here. Mr. Hudson came a long time ago.”
Evidently, Mr. Hudson had no shame. How could he drive directly to the Holbrooks’ after treating Liz so poorly at the restaurant? Or had he dropped by so he could blame her for their failure to get along?
“I’ll be right there.” Pulling up in front of the house across the street, the one she’d rented when she and Isaac had first moved to town, Liz shut off the engine. That house reminded her of some of the darkest hours of her life. She was glad she’d moved across town six months ago, when her lease had expired. She was living in another rental house, but her situation was improving. Maybe not her love life, but…other aspects. And she was going to make sure that trend continued.
Mica crowded the car door as soon as Liz opened it. “Did you have fun on your date? Did you like him?”
Liz refused to meet her daughter’s eyes. A gifted child, Mica would likely guess the truth if given half a chance. Fortunately, the purple of dusk had deepened into darkness, which provided Liz with some cover.
“We had a great time,” she said, averting her face as she leaned across the seat to get her purse. The sensible sedan she’d bought when she could no longer afford the Cadillac Esplanade she’d leased while she’d been married still had a comforting new-car smell, but it wasn’t half as good as the vehicle she’d lost.
Angela peered over Mica’s shoulder. “He really likes you, too.”
Masking her skepticism, Liz turned off her headlights. “What makes you think so?”
“He said it,” Mica replied.
From what Liz had gathered so far, Carter Hudson didn’t tell many lies. So this surprised her. “He did?”
“Yeah. When he first got here, he told Mrs. Holbrook you’re attractive.” Shoving her glasses higher on her nose, Mica gave Liz a smile. “He also said I’ll be as pretty as my mother someday.”
“How charming,” Liz said, but she was hardly convinced of Carter’s sincerity. The man she’d met wasn’t the type to compliment a gangly ten-year-old girl. “But he’s wrong.”
Mica blinked at her with wide, owlish eyes. “He is?”
“Yes. You’re both already far prettier than I am.” She pecked her daughter’s cheek while giving Angela an affectionate squeeze.
They laughed and held hands as they crossed the street. “We’ll tell everyone you’re here,” Mica hollered back.
Liz opened her mouth to stop them. She wanted to ask Mica to go in, collect her brother and quietly mention to Reenie that they were leaving. But she knew it would look odd if she didn’t put in an appearance, so she said nothing.
Striding up the walkway, she followed the girls past the tall, heavy door they’d left standing open. “Hello?” she called. “Mind if I come in?”
“Liz, is that you?” Reenie’s voice could be heard somewhere out back. “We’re in the yard.”
The entryway smelled of exotic flowers. After taking a moment to admire the floral arrangement in front of the large gilded mirror, Liz proceeded through the house.
Her heels clacked on the marble floor as she passed a tall table topped with a glass bowl full of marbles. The kitchen, with its center island and shiny copper pots dangling from hooks near the ceiling, came next. Beyond that, French doors opened onto an elaborate brick patio illuminated by tulip-shaped yard lights. Senator Holbrook, Celeste, Reenie, Isaac and Carter were out there, relaxing in lawn chairs.
“Here she is,” the senator said, getting up to kiss her cheek. “I told you she was special, didn’t I?” he said to Carter.
Carter’s eyes lifted momentarily to Liz’s, and she thought she recognized a hint of amusement in their depths. “Yes, you did.”
“Can I get you a drink?” Celeste asked.
Liz raised a hand. “No, thank you. I won’t be staying long. I’m just here to pick up the kids.”
“What happened to your dress?” Reenie asked. She and Isaac sat across the patio at a circular table.
Liz did her best to wipe dust and taping mixture from her dress. “Oh, I stopped by the shop.”
Her brother stretched out his legs and toyed with the stem of his empty wineglass. “How’s it coming over there?”
“Good,” she said. “Keith’s almost finished repairing the wall that was damaged when LeRoy ripped out the television.”
“I think LeRoy will regret moving,” Senator Holbrook volunteered, nursing what appeared to be a brandy.
“Why do you say that, Dad?” Reenie asked.
“Folks have been going to his barbershop for years. They won’t like the change.”
“You’re