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“No, dear, you’re not,” she argued gently, knocking on the stall door. “Come on out, now. It’s not that bad, surely.”
It was. It really was. And it reaffirmed the need to get out of Fort Kyle as soon as possible. She had to—she could not fall for Brody Wallace. Maybe this idea to see where their attraction would take them wasn’t such a good idea after all.
“India, please,” Ramona Wallace said. “I remember when Brody was real little. He got pneumonia and ended up in the hospital. I was so strong for him, of course. But I cried buckets whenever I was alone. Even after the doctors assured me he’d be just fine, I cried. From relief then, I guess.” She paused. “Today was a shock, I’m sure. But your boy is fine—”
“And the girls.” Her voice cracked.
“Oh, India, yes, they are right as rain. Right now, your boy is telling stories and making them all smile. He is a downright delight.”
India smiled, wiping tears from her cheeks.
“I can’t imagine how hard it must be, on your own. Times like this must be especially hard. Having friends is a great comfort.” She paused. “Friends like Brody?”
Brody. Her heart was beating again, rapidly.
“Come on out, India,” she repeated.
India wiped her face and opened the stall door. “I’m sorry. I just... I knew I was going to cry and didn’t want to upset the kids.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you.” Mrs. Wallace nodded. “Better now?”
“I think so,” she admitted, washing her face and hands.
“Can I ask you a question?” Mrs. Wallace leaned against the bathroom counter. “You and Brody were in school together here, weren’t you?”
She dried her hands and face with paper towels and glanced at the woman. “We knew each other.” What was Mrs. Wallace looking for?
Her gaze was tawny, almost gold, like her granddaughters and her son. And equally intense. “Were you friends?”
India hesitated, but then nodded, smiling softly. “Yes, ma’am. Brody was a good friend...one of the few people I could count on back then.”
“Was he?” she asked, offering India a tissue. Where had that smile come from? And what did it mean? “Well, I should get back to Brody and the girls,” she said, patting India’s hand before she left the bathroom.
India washed her face again, ignored her reflection and returned to the table. To find Jan Ramirez in her seat.
?
??Oh, did I take your seat?” the woman asked, smiling up at her.
“No, not at all,” India said. “Cal and I were just leaving.” She took care not to look Brody’s way. If she was lucky, she might just be able to keep herself together.
“Your truck is still at the fort,” Brody said. “I can drive you two back to the fort—”
“It’s okay,” she said, smiling at Cal. “I bet Tandy can give us a ride when she’s done.”
Cal smiled back. “Think I can see Tanner again?”
“We’ll have to see what she says.” She prayed her cousin was still at the clinic. Her phone, her purse, everything but her keys, were still in the truck at the fort. “Let’s head that way.”
“Cal is leaving?” Suellen asked.
“No horny toads?” Amberleigh asked.
“Not today,” Mrs. Wallace said. “But I’m sure we can try again soon.”
“When Tanner is better.” Cal nodded. “See you soon, Brody? For lessons?”
India squeezed Cal’s hand. “Oh, Cal, I think Brody’s too busy for that.”
