Page 29 of Coming For Her Curves
“Her mom…” My voice trails off.
Gladys nods her head. “Yeah, she was diagnosed, and it all happened so fast. She had surgery, radiation, and chemo. They were real hush-hush about it all, but since I was right next door, I knew. I helped when I could. I cooked for them and?—”
She sees my stunned expression and covers her mouth. “You didn’t know?”
I shake my head. “No, I didn’t know.”
She pats my hand. “Well, it took about two years, but she beat it.”
Izzy never knew her dad. It was always her and her mom. There’s no way she would have left her mom if she was sick like that. Why didn’t she tell me? And instantly, I know. She didn’t tell me because I would have stayed here with her. She wouldn’t have wanted me to give up baseball, and I would have done it without a second thought.
“Oh my God,” I mumble out loud.
Gladys looks at me worriedly. “What is it, son?”
We have made our way to the front. “Thank you, Gladys. You’ve helped me so much today.”
She waves me off. “Oh, I should be thanking you. It was nice to have someone to talk to.”
I take her to the counter, pay for her wine even though she tries to refuse it, and then help her get it out to the car. I put my phone number into her phone, and before she gets in, she grabs a covered plate from the back. “Here. I was going to take the chocolate chess pie to my kids, but they don’t need it. This is for you.”
I hold it up like it’s my most prized possession. “Thank you, Gladys. Izzy and I will eat this after dinner tonight.”
She smiles approvingly. “Oh, good. I didn’t want to be nosy. So you and Izzy are back together?” Before I can answer, she nods her head. “It makes sense. True love always finds a way. You know her son, Brock, comes over and shovels the snow off my sidewalks. He won’t ever take a dime. He’s a good kid.”
I nod my head with pride. “Yeah, he is.”
I hug Gladys with one arm since I’m holding the chocolate pie, and then I help her into her car. As soon as she drives off, I walk back into the liquor store, buy the wine Izzy likes, and then drive off across town to pick up my dad. He barely gets into the car, and I’m asking him, “Did you know?”
He’s smiling, wearing the Christmas sweater I got him just for tonight. “Thanks, son. Merry Christmas. It looks good, right?”
I roll my eyes. “Hi, Dad. Merry Christmas. The sweater looks good. Did you know that Izzy’s mom had breast cancer when I was drafted?”
He freezes next to me, and he doesn’t have to say a word. I can see the guilt on his face. “Dad, how could you not have told me?”
He turns in the seat next to me. “I didn’t know until after you were gone. Izzy came over to check on me, and she was so sad, Ryker. I knew there was something, and it took months for me to get it out of her. She was wore out, working full time, taking care of her mom, checking in on me. When she told me, she begged me not to tell you. She didn’t want you to give up your dreams.”
“Dad…” I start.
But I don’t have to say a word. “I know, I know. You wanted Izzy. I didn’t know what the right thing to do was, but then as time passed and you were seeing other women and a few years later, she was marrying Allen… I never liked him, but who was I? I couldn’t say anything…”
I let out a deep breath. This makes so much sense. All of it does. Her breaking up with me then and then today, her telling me I should go. She gives and gives and gives and never takes. Well, I’m not going to let her keep doing it. It’s about time she gets everything she wants, and I’m going to be the one that makes sure it happens.
“Don’t be mad at her, son. She thought she was doing the right thing.”
I nod. “I know.”
I drive back toward Izzy’s house with a whole new outlook. No matter what, I’m not leaving her again.
CHAPTER 16
IZZY
I look at the clock and wonder what is taking Ryker and his dad so long. As soon as he left, I regretted my words. I don’t want him to go… but I also don’t want him to resent me if he stays.
Caroline is the first to arrive. She comes, carrying her famous macaroni and cheese, and I take it from her and set it down on the hot plates on the buffet table Ryker set up this morning. I peel back the foil. “This looks amazing.”
She takes off her coat and is wearing a Christmas sweater. I gasp in surprise. “You! You’re wearing a Christmas sweater? You always make fun of mine.”
