“I never said April was on a date, just that she ate lunch with Shane at Riversong.”
Wren put her hand on her hip. “Exactly. A date.”
Nope, nope, nope. As Rochelle said,” April turned her stare on Rochelle, whose cheeks pinkened up, “it was not a date. I was just thanking him for?—”
Do not tell them your son thinks your life is in danger. Not right now.
“—showing Kevin the new puppies at Watchdog. You know how Kevin is with Pete and the other dogs.”
“And how he is with Shane,” Wren just couldn’t help but add. “It’s so sweet.”
April loved Wren to death, but right now, all she wanted to do was strangle her friend. It wasn’t Wren’s fault though. Wren didn’t grow up in Colorado; she didn’t know all the history. Rochelle didn’t, either. They meant well, but with Claudia here, their timing couldn’t have been worse.
“Save me a piece of pie,” April said as she grabbed the doorknob and escaped outside. She set her wine down and gripped the railing around the porch like the house was about to take off into the air and took deep breaths. She was sorely tempted to do an Irish goodbye and sneak off to her car, but she’d left her purse inside.
The mountain air had cooled down from the afternoon, soft and pine scented. She leaned on the porch railing until she got her breathing under control. She sipped her wine slowly, watching bees hover around bright flowers in Ellie’s garden. Her nerves had mostly settled—until the screen door creaked open behind her.
Claudia stepped out and joined her at the rail with a quiet sigh. “Beautiful out here,” she said.
“Hard to beat,” April replied, careful to keep her tone neutral.
For a moment, they stood in silence. Claudia’s manicured nails clicked lightly against her wine glass. “I’m glad I had the chance to meet the woman who has Yvonne Foti so upset.”
April nearly dropped her glass. “I…” An apology was on the tip of her tongue, even though Yvonne didn’t deserve one.
Claudia glanced over, lips twitching. “Everyone assumes we’re great friends because she confides in me. We’re not. Yvonne just likes to hear her own voice and I’m a good listener.”
April straightened. “I—wow. That’s—” She cleared her throat.
Claudia gave a soft, dry laugh. “Surprising?” Claudia turned toward her then, glass cradled lightly in her hands. “Let me be very clear. I’ve never liked the Fotis. They are the sort of people who say ‘bless your heart’ while they poison your tea.”
April snorted. “You’ve got that right.”
Claudia gave her a quick grin before continuing. “Yvonne wasn’t always that way, but she married a man who enjoys power a little too much. And Yvonne echoes him sometimes.” She shook her head. “Cruelty in pearls is still cruelty.”
April’s mouth had gone dry. “So Yvonne’s upset at me because…”
“Because Shane won't talk to Daniel. Shane’s been trying to convince her to leave,” Claudia said quietly. “Has been for a while. He doesn’t bring up his father directly—not anymore—but he makes it clear that he won’t come home, won’t even set foot in the same room until she walks away from that man.”
“What do I have to do with any of that?”
“Yvonne says you’re the reason he’s digging in. Shane adores you.” Claudia said it like it was fact, not a guess.
April’s spine went rigid. She shook her head. “He doesn’t.”
“He does, April. Yvonne doesn’t approve. Shane told her he won’t introduce Yvonne to any future grandchildren if she doesn’t change her attitude.”
April set her glass down carefully before she dropped it. She stared out into the trees without seeing them, heart hammering. It was one thing to have Shane flirt with her—he could flirt with any woman and not mean anything by it—but to know that she was still causing problems with his family?
He won’t introduce Yvonne to any future grandchildren. He’s standing up to his father. Because of me.
“It doesn’t matter what she thinks of me. I’m no threat to her. And especially his father.”
Claudia’s tone softened. “I disagree. Frankly, from what I’ve seen, I think you’re very much a threat. You’re exactly what Shane needs—someone who doesn’t play games and doesn’t back down. Someone with a spine.”
That got a bitter laugh from April. “If that had been true, I wouldn’t have left Lyons.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Claudia’s voice was gentle, but it held steel. “I don’t know the whole story. But I’ve watched Shane navigate the kind of childhood that leaves scars. You gave him hope once. And if I’m not mistaken, you might be doing it again.”
