LITMIR.BIZ

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Carter’s shoulders. Webster joined them, racing to Norman’s side. Gabriel half expected his father to ignore the bounding puppy. Instead, he crouched down and petted him, then ordered him to sit. Webster, like any young recruit, did what he was told.

      “We’ll go into town and get drunk,” Gideon said as he and Gabriel started down the stairs.

      “How about we get drunk in Morocco?”

      Gideon flashed him a smile, then stepped onto the path and held out his hand to his father. Gabriel did the same. What they said was “Dad” but the tone was “sir.”

      Norman didn’t try to hug them. He studied each of them in turn, stepping back when their mother rushed toward them.

      “My boys,” she cried, holding out her arms to them and pulling them close.

      She hung on for a long time. Gabriel gently patted her back, waiting for all the emotion to pass. Finally she stepped away and wiped her tears.

      “I can’t believe how long it’s been since we were all together,” she said, her voice trembling. “This is so wonderful.” She turned to Felicia. “Thank you for inviting us.”

      “We’re happy to have you,” Felicia murmured.

      Gabriel waited. From what he’d seen, Felicia usually said more. A statement or two on the importance of the family unit or an unexpected observation about connection. But there was nothing else.

      Gideon leaned close. “She’s trying to tone things down for the folks.”

      “They’re going to find out you’re marrying a genius sooner or later.”

      “She wants it later so she doesn’t scare them off.”

      “She’s great. They’ll like her.”

      “That’s what I said,” Gideon told him. “But she won’t listen.”

      Gabriel wanted to take her aside and point out that Gideon wasn’t looking for their approval, but doubted that would make her feel better. She would have to figure it out for herself.

      They moved into the house. Norman fell back to keep pace with Gabriel.

      “Still slacking off at the cushy hospital job?” his father asked, slapping him on the back.

      Gabriel thought about the horrors he saw, the hours he worked and how there was never an easy day. He remembered the countless times he’d been forced to tell a brave, young solder that yes, his leg, arm, eye or more was gone. He thought of the screams and the blood and knew there was no point in talking about any of it.

      “Still slacking off,” he said, shutting the door behind him.

      * * *

      Noelle hurried toward Brew-haha. Her friends had invited her for coffee before she opened her store. While she was busy, she’d never thought to say no. Since moving to Fool’s Gold, she’d met wonderful women who were very much a part of her life. They had sustained her in ways they didn’t even know about.

      She walked in the coffee house right on time and saw that Patience, Felicia and Isabel were already at a table together. There was a plate of muffins, a latte at each place and a slightly guilty expression on each of their faces. Noelle had no idea what was up but she knew the guilt didn’t come from eating an extra muffin that morning.

      “Hi,” she said as she took her seat. “What’s up?”

      Patience slumped in her seat. “I’m so bad at this. I just can’t keep a secret. Not from anyone I care about. I’m a blabber. It doesn’t matter if I don’t say anything—it shows on my face.”

      Felicia studied her. “In the gambling world, it’s called a tell. The twitch of a muscle or a nostril flare. I could show you what you’re doing and teach you how to control your involuntary reaction.”

      “Or she could simply accept the fault and move on,” Isabel said cheerfully. She picked up her latte. “I’m just saying.”

      “I don’t think I’m very trainable,” Patience admitted.

      Noelle relaxed and reached for a muffin. Obviously whatever was up with her friends wasn’t a crisis.

      “If you want to try, I’m here for you,” Felicia said, then she cleared her throat. “Gideon’s parents arrived last night.”

      “They weren’t due for a couple of days,” Isabel said. “Or did I get that wrong?”

      “They were early,” Felicia admitted.

      Noelle thought about Gabriel and how tired he’d been yesterday. She didn’t know the man very well, but from the little she’d seen, he wasn’t exactly a family kind of guy.

      “Did everything go okay?” she asked.

      “It was awkward,” Felicia admitted. “Norman and Karen seem very nice, but there hasn’t been much contact between all of them in a while, so that makes a difficult situation worse. Carter is thrilled and Webster offers an excellent distraction. We talked for a couple of hours, then we all went to bed.”

      She held on to her mug. “This morning Norman was up and fixing breakfast at six. I found him easy to talk to but then I don’t have any kind of past with him. It’s going to be more difficult for Gideon and his brother.”

      “Can we help?” Patience asked. “Host a dinner or something?”

      Isabel nodded. “Ford is a master at dealing with a big family and we can all be buffers. Just say the word.”

      Noelle nodded, not wanting to say anything in case she sounded too eager. Because where there were Felicia’s soon-to-be in-laws, there was also likely to be a certain handsome doctor. Maybe he would like her to rub his back or gaze adoringly into his eyes. She was up for either. Or something more adult.

      Which only went to show she had been manless for far too long.

      “Thank you,” Felicia said. “I appreciate the show of friendship.” She pressed her lips together. “Enough about me. We wanted to talk to Noelle for a reason and she has to be at her store soon.”

      The three women turned to her. Noelle had a sudden need to worry about having something stuck in her teeth. “What? Don’t freak me out. This is my busy period. I couldn’t take the pressure.”

      Patience reached for her hand. “We have something to tell you.”

      “It’s a good thing,” Isabel added quickly, then sighed. “The best.”

      “We’re getting married,” Felicia added.

      Noelle exhaled a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She squeezed Patience’s fingers, then picked up her latte. “Duh. You’re all wearing engagement rings. I’m blinded on a regular basis.”

      It was true. Each of them sported a diamond ring of impressive size. Noelle resisted the urge to cover her face and moan, “My eyes, my eyes.” But she wasn’t sure her friends would get the humor.

      “You know I’m happy for each of you, right?” She sipped. “Do you worry I’m upset?”

      “No,” Isabel told her. “It’s not that at all.”

      “Then?”

      “We’re getting married at Christmas,” Patience said in a rush. “Christmas Eve. After the Dance of the Winter King.”

      “Oh, wow. That’s great.”

      Noelle had never seen the Dance of the Winter King, but she’d heard all about it. Fool’s Gold did Christmas in style. Christmas Eve day began with a live nativity and ended with the production, put on by the local ballet school. Afterward those attending went to midnight services at the various churches around town.

      “We haven’t told anyone,” Felicia added. “Our fiancés know, of course, and

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