If We Never Met (Whisper Lake #5) - Barbara Freethy Page 0,66

to help her out."

"She's a friend then."

"Not really a friend." Mark checked his watch. "I should leave. Ruth and I are going to the farmers' market to pick up some fresh vegetables and fruit." Langley pushed back his chair and stood up. "I'm sure we'll talk again soon."

"I'm sure we will. We're on the same floor."

"Yes." Mark paused. "The woman I was arguing with, she's someone from my past. Did you mention her to Keira?"

"I did," he admitted.

"I should probably talk to Keira then."

"You should. From what I know, Keira and her mother are very tight. If you want something with Ruth, you're going to need her daughter to get on board."

"You're right. I'm going to make that a top priority. Have a good day."

"You, too." As Mark left, he wondered if he'd made a mistake in admitting that he'd told Keira about Mandy. On one hand, it gave Mark time to come up with a story to explain the argument with Mandy. But on the other hand, Mark had also been put on notice that his relationship with Mandy was more public than he'd realized. Mark could either share the nature of that relationship with Keira and her mother, or he could go for a cover-up. Whichever choice he made would be revealing. Hopefully Keira would see it that way.

He finished his coffee and then headed out the door. He needed to get to rehab, and then he was going to have to face his past at a child's softball game. Even though Keira had told him to skip it, to meet them at the harbor at two, he was going to make the game. He'd never let fear control him; he wasn't going to start now. And besides that, he really wanted to see Keira again.

Keira arrived at the park at the beginning of the second inning. Chloe and Hannah were standing off to the side of the first-base dugout, watching Chloe's almost three-year-old son, Leo, dig in the dirt along the fence.

"Hi there," she said. "Looks like someone is getting dirty."

Chloe smiled. "He found a stick, and that's all it took."

"How's the game going? Has Hailey batted yet?"

"No, her team is in the field," Hannah interjected. "She's at second base."

"I see her." She gave Hailey a wave as the little girl looked in their direction.

Hailey smiled and gave a small wave back before turning her attention to the girl in the batter's box.

Jake, who was standing in the dugout nearby, shot them all a look. "Don't distract my players," he said.

Hannah rolled her eyes. "Jake is taking his coaching role way too seriously."

"It's nice of him to do it," Chloe said.

"He was just going to sponsor the team until the coach had to have his appendix out. Zach couldn't do it, because he has his hands full designing Justin's new office complex. It's going to be something else, from what I hear."

"I'll bet. More business coming to Whisper Lake," she said. "And more jobs."

"The town is growing fast," Chloe agreed. "I might have to hire more help. We're busy seven days a week now. It's all good, but I'm used to having more downtime."

"I know what you mean. The shop is busy, too." She paused as Gianna came over to join them.

"Keira, thanks for coming," Gianna said.

"No problem. I'm hoping our girl gets a hit for her birthday."

"That would be lovely, but she's been struggling a little, so who knows?" Gianna paused, giving her a thoughtful look. "I'd love to know how you're doing, Keira, with everything that's going on, beyond the two-word text you sent saying: I'm fine."

"I'm fine," she reiterated.

Hannah gave a scoffing laugh. "No way you're fine."

"Is there anything we can do to fight the lies that woman is telling about you?" Chloe asked. "I'm not usually on social media, but I could get on there and post something."

"We all could," Gianna said.

"No. I don't want any of you to do anything. It will blow over eventually, and the people I care about know the lies aren't true. I didn't break up Nikki and Dante, and I only met Nikki once a long time ago. I didn't betray my girlfriend."

"Of course you didn't. You would never do that," Gianna declared. "The three of us know that better than anyone."

She looked around her circle of friends and smiled, thinking of how many years they'd known each other, loved each other, supported each other. These women would always have her back, and she would have theirs.