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  “What was that for?” Andi asked.

  “Just doing what my heart told me.”

  Andi sighed. Fallon was not going to make life easy. She placed a sweet kiss on Fallon’s lips. “I’ll see you later.”

  “Pastels, Fallon? For a three-year-old boy?” Carol asked. “What did you get him; The Guide to Bartending?” Carol teased.

  “Very funny. For your information, I got Owen something special. This is for a friend.”

  “Something special, huh? You bought him skis, didn’t you?”

  Fallon smiled.

  “You did!”

  “Maybe. I got him something he can play with now too.”

  “How much did you buy him?” Carol asked.

  “Why does it matter?”

  “I count on you for my paycheck. If Riley kills you, I’m broke.”

  “She won’t kill me.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Fallon laughed. “Don’t be so dramatic.”

  “Please tell me that whatever you got won’t involve dirt.”

  “What are you talking about? Have you been hitting the vodka?”

  “No. You tortured poor Riley that whole month she did your laundry.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Carol crossed her arms. “Really? Sledding in the mud with Owen? Ring any bells?”

  “Sledding in the snow. I can’t help that there is mud under the snow,” Fallon said.

  “Uh-huh. Making pizza with Owen? Does that ring any bells?”

  “He likes to help in the kitchen.”

  “I’m sure. How about this one; painting your spare room with Owen. Because everyone asks a two-year-old to help with that.”

  Fallon chuckled. “I think she threw that outfit out.”

  “See? She had to throw out Owen’s clothes because of you.”

  “Not Owen’s,” Fallon replied.

  “Oh, my God. You are never babysitting my kids… When I have them.”

  Fallon shrugged.

  “So? What else did you get him?”

  “None of your business. I don’t trust you not to tell Riley anyway. What did you get him?”

  Carol smirked. “Charlie and I got him a talking dinosaur.”

  Fallon laughed. And, you’re worried about Riley being mad at me for dirt?

  “Why are you laughing? Owen loves dinosaurs.”

  “I know. That doesn’t mean Riley does.”

  “Why wouldn’t Riley like dinosaurs? It’s cute.”

  “I’m sure it is.” Fallon grabbed her presents and headed for the backroom of the pub. Noisy toys definitely beat messy toys on the annoyance scale. She had removed the batteries from more than one of Evan, Emily, and Summer’s toys over the years. Carol had a lot to learn.

  “Hey, Fallon?” Carol poked her head around the corner.

  “Yeah?”

  “Your mom just pulled in the lot.”

  “At two in the afternoon?”

  Carol shrugged.

  I wonder what that’s about. Fallon made her way to the front door. “Mom?”

  Ida stepped out of her car and looked over her shoulder. “Expecting someone else?”

  “I wasn’t expecting anyone. Are you okay?”

  “Of course, I’m okay.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “It’s nice to see you too, dear.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  Ida grinned. “I need to talk to you.”

  “Okay?”

  “Let’s go inside.”

  Fallon held the door open for her mother. “Does this conversation require me to pour alcohol?”

  Ida’s wan smile answered the question.

  “Margarita?” Fallon asked.

  “Maybe after.”

  “What’s going on?”

  Ida sat down at a table and directed Fallon to sit across from her.

  “Seriously, what’s going on?”

  “I need to leave on Sunday,” Ida said.

  “Leave? Where are you going?”

  “Your brother called.”

  “Okay?”

  Ida sighed heavily. “He’s being sent overseas.”

  “Where?” Fallon asked.

  “He couldn’t say.”

  “How long?”

  “Couldn’t say that either.”

  Fallon attempted to process her mother’s news. Dean had entered the Naval Academy after high school. He had worked in Naval Intelligence for years. She wasn’t sure what exactly Dean did now. He’d been stationed in Virginia, Japan, Kuwait, Hawaii and for longer than Fallon thought was usual, Dean had been working in Washington DC. She had thought that Dean’s next piece of news would regard his retirement. An overseas trip or deployment was the last thing she anticipated. She was sure that her mother felt the same way.

  “So… You’re going down to see him before he leaves.”

  “I am. I plan to stay for a few weeks.”

  “A few weeks?” Fallon questioned.

  “Until Evan gets out of school.”

  “Mom, that’s a month.”

  “Well, four weeks.”

  “A month.”

  Ida shrugged.

  “Why? Evan is almost thirteen. Why would you need to be there? Beth should be able to handle it for a few weeks. I mean, Mom, she’s handled it for years.”

  Ida sighed.

  “What am I missing?”

  “I just found out myself.”

  Fallon was growing both concerned and irritated. “Found out what?”

  “Beth’s pregnant.”

  Fallon was stunned. Her sister-in-law was forty-two. If she had thought news of Dean being sent overseas was surprising, hearing that Beth was pregnant was mind-blowing.

  “You look surprised,” Ida commented.

  “You’re not?” Fallon challenged.

  “I am,” Ida confessed.

  “I still don’t get why you need to go there.”

  “Dean’s concerned.”

  “Is there a reason to be?”

  “I think I’ll know more when I get there,” Ida offered.

  “What do you need me to do?” Fallon asked.

  “Other than take care of yourself?”

  “Other than that.”

  “That’s not enough?”

  Fallon laughed. “I’ll be okay, Mom.”

  Ida sighed. Fallon would be okay. The tide in Fallon’s life was shifting. Ida wasn’t sure if Fallon recognized that as clearly as those closest to her did. She hated leaving now for any length of time. She worried; worried far more about her daughter than she ever had her son, and not for the reasons she knew Fallon would suggest. Dean had always excelled at whatever he sought to try. Fallon had spent more energy than Ida could understand trying to compete with or surpass her brother. It didn’t matter if it was on a ski slope, in a classroom, or financially. Part of it was Fallon’s admiration of Dean. Part of it was some crazy notion Fallon had developed that Dean’s success somehow mitigated hers. Despite Fallon’s need to compete with her older brother, the two had always maintained a close relationship. In recent years, Fallon had distanced herself from him. The truth was Dean’s decision to help Olivia and Barb have a family had hurt Fallon deeply. It was the one time that Ida saw resentment in her daughter’s eyes—betrayal. Ida couldn’t blame Fallon. She loved both her children. She’d always liked Olivia, and she adored all her grandchildren. Losing Olivia had torn Fallon apart. Watching Olivia start the family they had planned with someone else would have been painful on its own. Knowing that Dean had agreed to help in that endeavor shattered Fallon’s trust. Fallon closed herself off more than Ida had ever thought possible. For the first time in many years, Ida watched as Fallon’s resolve slowly began to crack. Fallon had two people she let close; two people she cared for immensely—Andi and Riley. She would not be able to keep Andi if she hoped to pursue a relationship with Riley. It was a precarious time, not a time that Ida would choose to be distant fr
om her daughter.

  “Seriously, Mom, I’ll be fine.”

  Ida nodded. “Do me a favor.”

  “Anything.”

  “Don’t bury yourself in this place while I’m gone.”

  What was it with everyone lately? Andi had made similar comments. Riley was constantly suggesting that Fallon needed to step out of the pub more. Even Carol had taken to urging Fallon to take time off. Fallon offered her mother a strained smile. “I promise.”

  Ida shook her head. “No matter what happens, Fallon; don’t lock yourself up in here.”

  “Mom, it’s Whiskey Springs. What is going to happen? The only earth shattering thing that might happen one day is Pete having sex.”

  Ida couldn’t stop herself from chuckling. She sobered quickly. “I’m serious.”

  “I promise; I won’t let Murphy’s Law be my life.”

  I hope not, Fallon. I hope not.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “I’m glad that you wanted to get together,” Riley said.

  “I thought you could use a little adult time,” Andi commented.

  “You thought right.”

  “How was your date with Jerry?” Andi wondered.

  Riley shrugged. She liked Jerry. He had been so nervous for the first hour they spent together that she had been forced to carry their conversation. Eventually, he had relaxed enough to engage. They talked mainly about work; how he started his business and what had led Riley to take up editing. She enjoyed getting to know him. He seemed genuinely interested in what she shared. Riley didn’t talk much about her work with friends. The exception being Fallon. For some reason, Fallon seemed to find Riley’s work fascinating. That had surprised her. It wasn’t glamorous, and she didn’t believe most people would find the ins and outs of her days terribly interesting. Still, she loved it. She also hoped that it would serve her as a writer one day. That was her ultimate dream; to write at least one memorable novel. She’d tried to start a thousand times and never seemed to get past a few paragraphs. Riley had chalked up her failure to keep moving with a project to time constraints. Working from home had been a Godsend as a single mother. When she did finish with the work that paid her bills, she wanted to devote her time to Owen. Since arriving in Whiskey Springs, she’d found herself inclined to spend her free-time investing in new friendships, Fallon and Andi’s most of all. While a lack of time contributed to Riley’s lack of productivity on the writing front, she knew that something deeper was blocking her. Perhaps she wasn’t ready to be vulnerable, to explore the emotions that writing a story would demand. Talking with Jerry had prompted her to examine her future.

  “It was fine,” Riley said.

  “Fine?” Andi chuckled. “A few weeks ago, you were ready to throw Pete against a wall. Was Jerry that boring?”

  Riley laughed. “No. Actually, our conversation got me thinking about some things.”

  “What things?”

  “What do I want to do? With my career, I mean.”

  “Your career?”

  “I know. I didn’t leave wondering when I’d see him again. I spent that night thinking about work. I guess our dinner didn’t exactly ignite that romantic spark I’d hoped.”

  Not surprised. “It happens.”

  “I’m not sure what will do that.”

  “I don’t know. I think sparks fly when you least expect them to.”

  “Like you and Fallon?”

  Andi smiled. Like me and Fallon. “That would be an example.”

  “How did you…”

  “How did we end up sleeping together?”

  “It’s none of my business.”

  “Do you really want to know?” Andi asked. Do you, Riley?

  Riley felt a lump form in her throat. Why do I want to know? It was a logical question to ask. Riley was curious. “I’m curious,” she admitted.

  Andi nodded. “Fallon and I have been friends for years.”

  “I know.”

  “I think she had a crush on me when she was a kid.” Andi chuckled. I know she did. “Back then she was a kid.”

  It was easy for Riley to imagine Fallon as a kid. She guessed that Fallon had never seen herself that way, though.

  “When she moved back,” Andi continued. “We started to get to know each other in a different way. The boys were young. She actually taught Jacob to ski. He struggled. Everything athletic came naturally to Dave. It was harder for Jacob. Being older, I think he felt he should be leading all the time. Jake was hardly ever home even back then. He didn’t have time to take the boys skiing or fishing; not often anyway. Not that he doesn’t love them; he’s always been on the go. Fallon and I had a standing lunch on Wednesday’s. Most of the time it was at the pub, which I have to tell you was a complete dump back then.” Andi laughed. “Sometimes, I still can’t believe she managed to put that place back together. She won’t quit once she gets her mind set on something.”

  “I’ve noticed.”

  “Mm. Well, that day Jacob had a mini-meltdown. He and Dave had gone with their uncle for a day at the slopes. Jacob was about six. Dave was only four. Their uncle dropped them off at the pub to me. Apparently, Dave had coasted as if he’d been on skis his whole life. Jacob spent most of the day face-down in the snow.”

  “Oh no.”

  “Yep. He was so sullen. When I asked him what had happened, he erupted into tears. Fallon put all the pieces together. I’ll never forget that day. She pulled him onto her lap and promised to teach him. She did. She took him the next day, just him. Spent hours skiing backwards until he found his feet. Whenever she would decide to spend a day at the slopes, she’d invite the kids, and she never let Jacob quit. That was a long, long time ago. I think Fallon captured a little piece of my heart that day.”

  Fallon loved kids. As a parent, watching someone connect with your child touched you. Riley loved to watch Fallon with Owen. “I understand.”

  Andi smiled. I know you do. “She and Jacob became close. I think that she’s his hero; if you want to know the truth.”

  Fallon often talked about Andi’s older son. Riley knew that she had spent time with Andi’s kids over the years. Fallon’s affection for them wasn’t news. She’d listened to countless stories about Jacob and Dave from both Fallon and Andi. It wasn’t news that the two women had been close friends for years either. Riley wondered how a friendship that had been cultivated over many years led to an affair.

  Andi continued. “When Dave was getting ready to leave for college last summer, I struggled. Both Jacob and Dave would be gone. Jacob got a great offer. He was working as an intern in Boston for the summer. His father was away for six weeks. Jake had invited Dave to travel with him to London and Paris. I was home alone. I think Jacob worries about me.” She chuckled. “Jacob called and asked if I thought Fallon would come with me for a weekend to Boston. He wanted to show us what he was working on.”

  “Fallon mentioned that he was a talented artist.”

  Andi beamed. “I know I’m not impartial, but that’s an understatement. He was working on an ad campaign for Toyota. That doesn’t happen for twenty-year-olds often.”

  “I wouldn’t imagine so.”

  “He was so excited. I swear to you, everything he does, he wants to show Fallon.”

  “Fallon talks about him often.” That was true. She talked about Jacob Maguire at least as much as she did her goddaughters or Evan.

  “Anyway…. I didn’t think she’d go. You know her. She likes to stick close to home.”

  “But she agreed.”

  “She did. It was one of the best weekends of my life,” Andi said. She sighed lightly. There was no point in avoiding this conversation. Sooner or later Riley was going to ask, and eventually either she or Fallon would need to tell the young woman how they had ended up in the strange relationship they shared. Andi had been thinking about that weekend often, and she knew the reason why. She would forever recall that weekend as one of the most memorable and special times in her life. She would spare Ri
ley the details, although she would never be able to recall that weekend without reliving it vividly.

  Jacob had brought Andi and Fallon into a large conference room. Easels surrounded a long table. He’d taken them through the campaign, pointing out the graphic work he’d done and the notes that credited him. He glowed. It made Andi’s heart sing. Afterward, Fallon had insisted on taking them all to a celebratory dinner. Jacob had gotten an offer to join some of his coworkers at a party. He’d been ready to decline. Fallon wouldn’t hear of it. “Leave us old ladies to our drinks,” she had told him. Andi remembered the grateful hug that Jacob bestowed on them both, more like the affection she would expect from a child Owen’s age than a young man working in the city.

  Fallon had suggested they continue their evening at the hotel bar. With no place to be, and no need to drive they had indulged in a few drinks. When Fallon walked Andi to her room, Andi had become emotional. Andi still wasn’t certain what had prompted her tears; whether it was the reality that her children were becoming adults, that she would be alone at home soon, or the way Fallon looked at her. Maybe it was a little bit of everything. She could still feel the heat of Fallon’s hand as it pressed to her cheek. No matter how many times Andi replayed their first kiss, she could never determine who had initiated it. It didn’t matter. Fallon’s lips had found hers. Her hands had gripped Fallon’s waist, and everything in the world had faded away. It had been the one and only night that she had slept in Fallon’s arms. They’d agreed the next day that they would never regret that night but would never repeat it. That agreement had been broken two days later. It was that night, the second time that she and Fallon had fallen into each other’s arms that they had agreed never to spend an entire night together again. Andi had no intention of leaving Jake. Fallon had no desire to break up Andi’s marriage. Neither wanted to think about walking away from what they had discovered. For nearly a year, they had come together whenever possible. Andi would never regret her time with Fallon. Recently, she had come to face realities that she had chosen to deny. What she felt for Fallon, what she shared with Fallon went far beyond a sexual affair. She chose not to name what she felt. Maybe that would make the inevitability of an ending more bearable—maybe.