She and her friends were being silly, letting these secrets come between them. You didn’t live as long as any of them and not collect a few skeletons in your closet.
It was time to finally tell her own secrets. Horace deserved to know about Gerard. She’d been so upset that he’d been leaving her out to do so many things with Smitty, but she’d been leaving him out of her life for longer, hiding things from him. And why? Because of fear that he’d realize she was less than perfect? He knew that about her already.
He sat in the chair beside her, watching Logan and Julia with a soft smile on his face. For someone who had been so against them getting together, he’d made a complete one-eighty, and pride was written all over his face. Her love for Horace was so deep and full her heart ached with it.
It was time to tell him. Tonight, when they got home. And it was time for her to include him in her matchmaking plans, once and for all. If she gave a little, perhaps he would as well. She missed him—and not just spending time with him, but being emotionally close to him.
“Winnie, finally. You are a difficult woman to track down.”
Winnie’s spine stiffened as Gerard stepped into her view, blocking her granddaughters from sight.
“I haven’t met you yet,” Horace said, sounding friendly, at least as far as Winnie could hear through the blood rushing through her ears.
Gerard held out his hand. “Gerard. And you must be Horace, the lucky man who snagged the girl who got away.”
Horace’s brow furrowed, and it was like Winnie was across an ocean, trying to swim to them, trying to stop this conversation, but the waves kept pushing her back. “I’m sorry, I’m confused.”
Gerard laughed as if this were a merry reunion and not as if they were watching her drown, no one coming to save her. “I’m Gerard Hammond,” he said as if that name should ring a bell for Horace. “Winnie’s first husband.”
As if the DJ were playing an actual record, the music screeched to silence at Gerard’s booming voice, and everyone’s gaze shot toward them in shock.
Winnie opened her mouth like a fish, not sure if she should confirm the statement, deny it, or pretend to faint. All around them, people exclaimed and started talking, but she couldn’t look away from Horace. Her throat too tight to speak, she confirmed what Gerard said with a nod.
And watched as her husband’s heart broke in two.
Chapter 37
“Human minds are more full of mysteries than any written book and more changeable than the cloud shapes in the air.” —Louisa May Alcott
Eliana’sbrainstruggledtocatch up with what that man had just revealed about Grandma Winnie.
She’d been married before? When? And why hadn’t she told any of them?
She pulled herself from Asher’s arms and ran to the table, but by the time she got there, Grandma and Grandpa had slipped away, leaving behind a confused-looking man.
Eric exchanged a surprised look with Eliana, then turned to encourage the DJ to get the music going again. “It’s the cupid shuffle!” the DJ announced, and Eric got Cameron to lead the dance with him, distracting everyone from the drama.
“I thought he knew,” the man said to Eliana, as she approached, like she might offer him absolution. But all she could see in her mind was Grandma’s panic and Grandpa’s hurt—and it didn’t make her feel like offering any forgiveness, whether it was hers to give or not.
“Who are you?” she asked, sounding accusatory. A supportive hand rested on her hip, and she knew without looking that it was Asher, and that he was on her side, no matter what.
“Gerard.” He stood and offered his hand to her, which she reluctantly took. His handshake was firm and businesslike. “I just bought one of the bungalows.”
She narrowed her eyes. Asher’s grip tightened at her side. It had to behisbungalow. She didn’t need any more reasons to dislike Gerard, but he was just offering them up on a silver platter.
“Why are you here? Are you trying to break up their marriage?”
“No.” He ran a hand over his mouth and looked like he wished he could escape. “Of course not.”
Anger rushed through Eliana. “What? So my grandma isn’t good enough for you?” Wait. She was so angry she didn’t even know what she was saying.
Gerard’s mouth tightened. “She’stoogood for me. I often wonder how much better my life would be if I’d never left her.” He paused. “It’s Eliana, right?”
She glared but nodded.
“I didn’t know she’d never told anyone about me. We married the summer after graduating high school.” He shook his head with regret. “But I always liked Winnie. She had a way of making everything seem happier.” His weary, downcast eyes made him appear even older.
“Then why come here and try to wreck her life?”
