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“Nothing.” She winced. “After my father’s funeral, I hopped in a girlfriend’s car and drove away. I’m going to Wisconsin to spread his ashes. Then…I’ll figure out what’s next for me.”
For a split second, Gloria looked stunned. Then she smoothed her expression. “Let’s talk through your options and figure this out.”
“I’ve already taken too much of your time and blurted way more than you wanted to hear. I’ll just head to my motel and—”
“Don’t be silly. You just got here. Let’s open a bottle of wine and talk. Sit right there. Red or white?”
Heavenly hesitated. But why run off? Gloria didn’t seem to mind…and talking to her was surprisingly therapeutic, maybe because she didn’t seem to be judging at all. “I like white if you have it.”
“I’ll be back in two shakes.” Gloria headed around the corner.
“Baby, where are my brown socks?” a leanly muscled stranger with salt-and-pepper hair shouted as he sauntered down the stairs and entered the adjoining kitchen wearing nothing but a towel and a smile. When he caught sight of her, he stopped short. “Hi. I didn’t hear the doorbell. Sorry.” He snagged Gloria by the arm. “You didn’t tell me we had company.”
We?Did the man live here?
His eyes narrowed. “Did you answer the damn door while I was in the shower? You know you’re not supposed to.”
Gloria sighed. “Don’t stare at me like that. I’m in one piece. I looked out the peephole first.”
“I still don’t like it.” He nodded toward Heavenly. “Is she here for a job? She’s pretty. You could charge double for her.”
“Isn’t she gorgeous? But she’s Ken’s.” She smiled tightly. “This is Heavenly.”
On that note, she rose to give Gloria and her nearly naked man some privacy. “It was nice to meet you. Thank you for listening and not hating me. I’m really sorry to have intruded. I didn’t know you were…busy. I’ll be on my way.”
“Don’t you dare. Sit down, honey. By the way, this is Buddy. He’s my fiancé.”
Fiancé?
Heavenly’s mouth fell open. Had Gloria strayed from the marriage first and asked for the divorce? Had she broken Beck’s heart?
The redhead turned to the barely clad man. “Check the dryer for your socks, and for god’s sake, put some pants on.” Then Gloria looked her way and held up a finger. “I’m going to run to the wine cellar, honey. Two seconds. Don’t leave.”
“What do you want to do about the girls tonight?” Buddy called after her.
She turned back. “Crap. Give Trinity a call and see if she can keep an eye on them, would you?”
Girls?
Heavenly swallowed, feeling utterly ill. “You and Beck have…children?”
“Fuck no! We, um… No. I’ll explain once we have wine. Don’t leave.”
With that, Gloria disappeared, her heels clicking across the hardwood floor. In a daze, Heavenly stood and wandered out the open doors to the expansive patio, staring at the pool beyond, illuminated with a peaceful glow by the approaching sunset. A warm breeze swept through the yard. Fluffy clouds gathered above.
She tried to absorb everything Gloria had told her. Even if she’d listened to Beck’s explanations, she would never have believed him. Who would? This situation was beyond surreal. Heck, even Gloria had told her the marriage wasn’t traditional and she still didn’t truly comprehend.
Heavenly stood outside until the sun slid farther toward the horizon, the crickets sang, and the wind picked up while the temperature dropped.
Behind her, heels clicked again. “I’m back. Pouring vino now.”
Heavenly turned and wandered back inside. “You have a lovely house. Did Beck live here with you?”
“No. I bought this place myself long after he moved to LA. Have a seat.” She set a glass of wine on the table beside a plate of cheese and crackers. “Drink. You must have a million questions.”
“That’s an understatement.” Heavenly sipped the surprisingly light wine and gathered her thoughts. If Gloria was willing to tell all, she would listen. “Did you two separate a long time ago? Is that why you don’t have kids?”
“Ken and I were never married in the usual sense of the word. We weren’t in love and we didn’t plan to stay married this long.”
