Page 20 of Immortal Unveiled

“No, my mother was too classy to do such a thing! In fact, I think she loved you like a son. She wouldn’t have loved anything more than you being part of the family. But she also knew that I didn’t love you the way a bride should love her husband-to-be. I’m sorry. You were like a comfortable sweater. And I need more than that.”

“A sweater?”

She shook her head. Of course, Todd didn’t understand. Manus would have understood. She motioned to the door. “Please leave before we both say hurtful things. I wish you the best. I wish for you to find a woman who truly loves you as much as you’ll love her.”

Disbelief in his eyes, Todd shook his head and turned. He marched past her and left, slamming the door on the way out.

It was best this way. What woman could truly remain friends with her ex-fiancé after telling him she had never really loved him? Jennifer would probably agree with her.

Kim reached for her cell phone and dialed her best friend’s number.

“Hey,” Jennifer answered. “Sorry I haven’t replied to your text yet. You done with your article?

“Yep. I’ve got time to talk now.”

“So, they solved the case after all, huh?”

“Yeah.” Kim sighed.

“I’ve just cleared my schedule for the rest of the day.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know that, but what are friends for? So, what do you want to do now? Get drunk?”

The thought of more alcohol brought back memories of her evening with Manus. “Better not.”

“Really? I figured after that kind of news, you’d want to dull your senses a bit.”

“I kind of did that last night.”

“You drank alone? Why didn’t you call me last night? I could have cancelled my date and come over.”

“I didn’t drink alone.”

“Who were you with?”

“Uh…”

A gasp at the other end of the line. “Oh, no, you didn’t! You said you weren’t getting back with Todd. Did you fall off the wagon? Oh, Kim, why? Why?”

“I wasn’t with Todd. Why would you even think that?” she interrupted. “Though he showed up here just now. Somebody at the station told him about the case being solved.”

“What did he want?”

“To gloat, probably!” Kim huffed. “And get back together.”

“What an idiot. I hope you tossed him out on his ass.”

“I did.”

“Good for you!”

Jennifer’s confirmation felt good. At least one person was on her side. A person who wasn’t bringing up the fact that Kim had believed in supernatural forces being involved in her mother’s death. She’d been proven wrong—however, she still wasn’t sure about the air conditioning and pressure system explanation Manus had given her. Not that it mattered anymore.

“You still there?” Jennifer asked.

“Yeah, sorry. I spaced out.”