Amy shook her head. “You don’t have to—”
“Yes, I do. I can tell something is really wrong.”
She paused. “It is.”
“Be there in twenty.”
Somehow Laura managed to beat her estimate by five minutes. She didn’t bother coming into the house but opened the backyard gate and walked over to Amy, who was sitting on one of the patio chairs staring at the thick green grass.
“How did you know I was here and not inside?” Amy asked.
“We’ve been friends for almost twenty years.” She sat down. “I know you pretty well by now. What happened?”
Amy explained everything, including kissing Max, which Laura found more surprising than the fact that Daniel had returned.
“You kissed him?” Laura leaned forward, her eyes bright with anticipation. “How was it?”
“I don’t know.”
She frowned. “Huh?”
“I wasn’t thinking about Max when I kissed him.”
Laura winced. “Who were you thinking about—” She gasped. “Daniel?”
“Just about sticking it to him, that’s all. Nothing romantic, if that’s what you’re implying.” She shuddered. “That would never happen. And I know what you’re thinking. It was a low thing to do.”
“Very low,” Laura said honestly. “Why did you do that to him? It’s not like you to be petty.”
She fisted her hands. “Daniel makes me crazy. He always has. I thought I was rid of him, Laura. But like a bad boomerang, he’s back in my life. Britt seems to have reconciled with him.”
“Have you talked to her about it yet?”
“She’s at Maude’s.” The hurt returned. “I can’t believe she didn’t tell me about him.”
“I can.”
Amy jerked her head toward Laura. “What?”
“Look how nutty you’re acting now. Do you think anythingwould have changed if she’d told you before? Except for you kissing Max, you would still be just as angry.”
“No, I wouldn’t.” But as she said the words, she knew Laura was right. And now she was realizing that Britt had made the right decision by keeping the secret until she felt she could reveal it. “She would have had to tell me eventually.”
“True, but maybe she had a plan to make the news land a little more softly. She’s spent her entire life hearing how awful her dad is.”
“Excuse me?” Amy balked. “I never said anything that wasn’t the truth.”
“I know, but even when you didn’t say anything, she knew. Everyone knows how bitter you are about Daniel.”
Amy scowled. “If this is a pep talk, it’s the worst one in history.”
“It’s real talk. Listen to me. You have to let Daniel go. All of him—the pain he caused, the dreams he destroyed. If you don’t, it’s going to eat you alive. I think it has in some ways. You won’t even think about letting another man near you.”
“That’s because of Britt—”
“Oh no.” Laura held up her hand. “Don’t use her as an excuse. She’s a grown woman.”
“I know that.” She kicked at a pebble near her chair. “What I don’t get is why everyone feels the need to remind me.”
