going to happen.”
“I’m not discussing my mother’s personal life with her.”
“You’d rather deal with her broken heart after the fact?”
“She and Glen aren’t involved.”
“You know this how?”
“I just do.”
She groaned. “So this is what you do. If you don’t like something, you pretend it’s not real?”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“What about Clay? He’s your brother and you don’t talk about him.”
Rafe’s gaze hardened. “He’s not your business.”
“You act like he’s a criminal. He’s an underwear model. He probably makes more money than you. What’s the big deal?”
“He could have done something with his life.”
“He is.”
“Nothing to be proud of.”
Heidi dropped her hands to her hips. “You’re a prude. You’re embarrassed by what Clay does, so you don’t talk about it.”
“I’m not.”
“You’re embarrassed to talk to your mom, too. Is it sex?”
“I don’t have a problem with sex,” he growled.
“You have a problem with something.”
“Right now, mostly you.” He set down the water and faced her. “I worked my ass off when I was a kid, taking care of my family. I went hungry, did a man’s job, and I was ten years old. So I have the right to say whether or not my brother is wasting his life. The same with my sister.”
That confused her. “I thought she was a dancer.”
“God only knows. She walked away from…” He shook his head. “I’m not talking about her.”
“You’re the one who brought her up.”
She thought about all she’d learned about him and his past. About how hard that time must have been for him. He’d managed to go to college on a scholarship and create a business empire. But how much of that small, frightened, hungry boy remained?
“Just because Clay became a model doesn’t mean he doesn’t appreciate what you did.”
“Don’t try to get inside my head. It won’t happen.”
“I’m saying maybe you need to give him a break.”
“This advice comes from all the experience you have with a big family?”
She raised her chin. “I grew up with plenty of family. Maybe not the traditional kind, but I know exactly what it’s like to live with a lot of people in a small space.” She held up both hands. “Fine. We’ll let the Clay thing go. But please talk to your mother about Glen.”
“No.”
“For a man who was married before, you really don’t know much about women. No wonder you need to use a matchmaker. Fine. Don’t talk to May. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
* * *
HEIDI PUSHED HER EMPTY GLASS to the edge of the table. She looked across the room to the bar and waited until Jo looked up. When the bartender raised her eyebrows, Heidi tapped her glass and nodded.
Yes, thank you very much, she would like another margarita and maybe even one after that.
“I’m budgeting a hundred and thirty-five thousand dollars,” Annabelle was saying. “I’m hoping to get it for around eighty or ninety, and have the rest for refurbishing and stocking.”
“A bookmobile?” Charlie asked.
Annabelle nodded. “We have a lot of people in our community who can’t get to the library. The last big fundraiser completed the media center, which is great. Plus, if I could get a couple of laptops and a mobile hotspot, we could take the internet to people who’ve never experienced it before.”
Charlie grimaced. “I find you annoying when you’re this earnest. It confuses me.”
“I know. I’m more natural being sarcastic, but I really care about the bookmobile. I’ve been thinking about a festival fundraiser. I need to talk to Pia.”
Pia was responsible for the dozens of festivals in Fool’s Gold. She worked miracles out of a tiny office. Due to her extraordinary planning, decorative flags went up on time, vendors arrived and Porta Potties were delivered.
“We’ll help,” Heidi said. “Just tell us what you want to do.”
Charlie shook her head. “I’m not volunteering.”
“Yes, you are,” Heidi told her. “You know you are.”
Charlie sighed. “Fine. I’ll be there.”
“I’m still in the planning stage, but I’ll let you know when that changes to action.”
Jo delivered Heidi’s margarita. She promised their burgers would be out shortly, then went to check on other customers. Heidi reached for her glass only to realize her friends were staring at her.
“What?”
“That’s your second,” Charlie said.
“I know.”
“You usually don’t get a second drink until the food arrives. Sometimes not at all.”
“I’m having a bad day.” Heidi slumped back in the booth. “I don’t even know where to begin.”
Annabelle patted her arm. “Jump in wherever you want. We’ll catch up.”
“Glen is sleeping with May. At least I think he is. She was in his room and they were laughing, and it sounded very intimate. I’m worried about her, about Glen breaking her heart. That’s what he does. He’s not a one-woman kind of guy. But when I tried to talk to Rafe, he wouldn’t listen. He thinks Glen is too old to have sex. Stupid man. And all my life, Glen told me love wasn’t real, and if it was, it was for suckers. Now suddenly he’s saying May is the one, and his feelings are real. That he was wrong about love, and I should forget everything he told me before.”
She paused to draw in a breath. “And Rafe has a matchmaker, if you can believe it, and he’s on a date tonight. Because if you had a chance to land someone like him, what’s a three-hour drive to Fool’s Gold, right? And the cows are gone, which is good, because I need the money, and I’m hiring a sales rep for my cheese, which is scary. It was Rafe’s idea, so he’s helping me and trying to take my home from me at the same time.” She drew in another breath. “There’s a lot going on.”
She
