Page 94 of Faking It with the Firefighter

“Good. And Donny? You did the right thing by breaking it off with Blair. I know it took a lot of courage to call off the wedding.”

Donny gave me a lopsided grin, and suddenly it felt like we were kids again. “Yeah, I’ve already been getting backlash online.” He shrugged. “But I guess that’s what happens when you break up with an influencer.”

“So what are you going to do now?” I asked.

Donny shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I know I have to figure it out on my own.”

Pride burned through me. “You will.”

“See you later?”

“Yeah,” I said, and got in my truck. As we drove away from each other, I exhaled. My brother would be okay.

THIRTY-FOUR

ABIGAIL

Evelyn answeredthe door wearing a matching periwinkle blue pantsuit, her white hair perfectly styled. Huge pearls hung in her ears, and rings adorned four of her fingers. “Abigail! Come on in. I was surprised to get your call earlier.”

“Thanks for agreeing to meet with me.”

The older woman led me into her home, down a wide hallway and into a formal living room, complete with overstuffed sofas and a big feature fireplace. She brought out a silver tray with delicate china cups full of coffee, and we sat across from each other and made pleasant conversation for a few minutes.

“This isn’t where we have Hooker’s Paradise when we come over,” I noted, waving to the gilded wallpaper and dramatic chandelier. When Evelyn hosted, we usually gathered in the room off the kitchen that had big comfy sofas and a television hidden behind a wooden cabinet.

Evelyn’s eyes were sharp as she smiled. “You said you wanted to talk business. I felt the formal living room would be more appropriate.”

I laughed. “Fair enough. I’m here about the strip mall on Sweetgum Boulevard south of town.”

Evelyn sipped her coffee and smiled. “So the Sinclair boy wised up and hired someone who could actually help him, did he?”

I had to hand it to Evelyn, she immediately guessed why I was here. Since she cut straight to the point, I needed to follow suit. “Does that mean you’re interested in selling?”

We settled into business, and the tension that had plagued me for days began to melt away. This was my element. I loved the thrill of the sale and the sharp edge of a tough negotiation. Finally, Evelyn gave me a number that I could take back to Sinclair. I exhaled, smiling.

“Now that that’s done,” she said, “would you like some cake? I heard you didn’t get to eat any this weekend.”

Reality crashed back into me, and I sighed. “You heard, huh?”

“Honey, there isn’t one person in this town—maybe in this whole country—that hasn’t heard.”

I groaned. Evelyn chuckled, then disappeared into the kitchen and came back with two thick slices of cake from Sophie’s bakery. I took a bite and hummed. Chocolate cake, pistachio filling, and flakes of rich dark chocolate speared into a thick ganache outer layer. Yum. Sophie knew her stuff.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked when I’d demolished half my slice.

“Depends on what it is,” Evelyn replied. She sat with oneankle crossed over the other, looking like the queen of her domain.

“It’s about your marriages.”

Evelyn nodded for me to continue.

“You were married four times, right? How did you get back on the horse after your first divorce? Or even your later ones? Wasn’t that…hard?”

Evelyn was a shrewd woman who gave very little away. But the way she looked at me now made me think that she would’ve made a wonderful grandmother. She looked warm and gentle and kind. “The first one was the easiest, to tell the truth,” she admitted. “We married young, and we were glad to go our separate ways. My second husband—that was more difficult. I loved him something awful, and he hurt me.”

“But you still got married again.”

Evelyn gave me a smile that I’d never seen before. It was wistful and soft. “I did. I guess I’m a romantic. I always believe the best in people.”

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