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“Okay.” Roman still didn’t look happy.
Lizzie straightened and lowered her voice. “Thanks for backing me up.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And give Ines and Carlos my best, won’t you?”
She was just about to go into the store when he spoke again. “If you’ve got time, I think they’d love to see you. Carlos isn’t going to live much longer.”
She nodded, and went into the shop, her composure even after five minutes of his company completely shot through. The thought of living the next ten years with him around making her feel things she really didn’t want to admit to wasn’t good.
Maureen came out to see Roman and listened intently as he started telling her all about his vacation. Lizzie touched her shoulder.
“Can you keep an eye on Roman for a sec? I’ve just got to do something.”
“Sure!” Maureen smiled at her. “Take your time.”
Lizzie practically ran down the sidewalk, her gaze fixed on the tall figure heading for Dr. Tio’s medical center.
“Hey.” She called out to him and he swung around like a gunslinger.
“What’s up?” His expression was guarded.
“If we’re both going to stay in this town, I think we do need to talk,” Lizzie said breathlessly.
He considered her and nodded. “Okay.”
“How about I meet you up at the Cortez ranch this afternoon?”
“Fine by me.”
He tipped his Stetson, turned, and walked on, leaving her staring at his broad back, and wondering what the heck had possessed her to do such a stupid, impulsive thing. But things couldn’t stay like this between them, and this time she wasn’t willing to wait another fourteen years just to clear the air.
* * *
Lizzie held Carlos’s hand and smiled into his brown eyes. “It’s so good to see you.”
He nodded slightly. “You, too. Like . . . another daughter.”
She squeezed his fingers. “You and Ines have always been kind to me and Roman. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
His eyes closed, and his breathing altered slightly as whatever the machine was feeding into his vein took effect.
“He’ll sleep for a while now.”
Lizzie looked over her shoulder to find Adam propping up the door into the house. She wanted to go to him and let him hold her so badly that she had to curl her toes up in an effort not to rush him.
He raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to talk to me?”
“Yes.” Well, she didn’t want to, but she feared it had to be done. “Somewhere we won’t annoy Ines.”
He stepped into the quiet house and she followed him.
“Ines is napping. Perpetua, Dr. Tio’s nurse, will sit with Carlos for the next hour or so,” Adam said. “She’ll let us know if anything changes.”
He walked into Louisa’s old bedroom and Lizzy stopped at the door.
“Where’s everything gone?”
“Ines is set on clearing out the place for Yvonne and Rio.” Adam shrugged. “She says she’s got way too much time on her hands and she likes to be busy.” He walked over to the window seat, perched on the edge, and folded his arms over his chest. “Do you want to go first?”
“Sure.” Lizzie sat on the mattress and gathered her thoughts. “I just want us to find a place where we can see each other, smile, and get along. If you still want to be friends with Ro? That’s also okay. He needs good role models in his life, and Ray Smith isn’t likely to be one of them.”
“I don’t have a problem with any of that.”
“Then, that’s good.” Lizzie blew out a relieved breath. “That’s all I have to say, really. Except that maybe one day we can be friends again, too.”
He studied his crossed feet. “I don’t know.”
“Oh, okay.” Her faint hope plummeted. “Then let’s just stick to the not shouting at each other, and the being pleasant thing. We’re both adults. We can manage that.”
He slowly raised his gray eyes to meet hers. “Ines told me that Louisa was pregnant.”
“I thought we were just going to talk about being friends?” Lizzie desperately parried.
