Page 6 of Unbroken

“Okay, I’m going to run an errand, then head back to the ranch. Good luck with the car.”

“I’ll come with you,” she said brightly. “I want to see what’s changed around town. Where are you headed?”

I sighed. “I need to pick up my blazer. I had the tailor mend a rip on the shoulder.”

Fiona acted like she hadn’t heard me, pointing just beyond me. “That’s a cute new coffee shop.”

“Yeah, there are a couple of new restaurants, too. The area’s been getting more tourism lately, which has led to new businesses—and of course, it’s been bringing in more riders for the trail program. Speaking of, I was thinking about which horse you should ride. I’m not sure if Josh has kept you up to date about who’s in the stables but?—”

“Wait a sec,” Fiona interrupted, her face screwed up in confusion. “You said yourblazer? Since when do you wear a blazer?”

I huffed out a breath. The more I told her about what I was up to, the more questions she was going to ask. “I usually don’t—that’s the problem. When I pulled it out from the back of the closet and tried it on, I, uh, tore the shoulder seam. I guess I’ve gotten a little broader since the last time I wore it.” I purposely left out why I needed it.

I could tell by her expression that she wasn’t going to drop it. “Yeah, but why were you digging it out in the first place?”

I knew the second I told her about the wedding, she’d be off and running with a new line of questioning. Who was getting married? Who else was going? Where was the venue? How many people were attending? Would she know anyone that was going to be there? All I wanted to do was walk in silence, but instead, I was opening myself up to more of her chatter.

But Fiona was like a bloodhound—she wouldn’t let this go. Might as well give in. “I’m going to a wedding.”

“Fun!” She paused and peered at me out of the corner of her eye. “Do you have a date?”

And there it was, the beginning of the inquisition.

“Idid. My friend Anna was going to be my plus one, but she had a last-minute work thing come up, and she has to travel over the weekend. So I’m going alone.”

“Do I know the bride and groom?”

I shook my head and tried not to smile at how predictable she was. “Nope, they moved to town a few years ago. The guy manages Flying Aces Farm, and his fiancée is the assistant manager at Carly’s Coffee and Treats. They’re great people. A solid couple.” I regretted saying it the second it came out of my mouth.

“Speaking of couples …” Fiona said softly, sounding unusually hesitant. “I’ve been meaning to ask, are you okay since your divorce? I was really sorry to hear about it.”

The concern in her voice seemed genuine, and I could feel her staring at me as we walked toward the tailor. “Yeah, I am now. It was rough for a while. Hard on Patrick, as you can imagine. But he and I make a good team, and we’re doing fine.”

“I heard … what happened. What she did.”

I let out a joyless laugh. “I bet you did. Gotta love the Poplar Springs gossip machine.” I frowned. “I’m curious, what exactly did you hear?”

Fiona’s cheeks went pink at being put on the spot. “Uh, just that Charlotte … uh, was unfaithful.”

“Yup, that’s right,” I replied, staring ahead with the same unsmiling expression I’d been wearing since I’d come upon Fiona stuck on the road. “No details, though?”

She shook her head. “No, just that you split up and why. But honestly … I’m curious about it. Did you know it was going on? Was it a long-term thing?”

I clenched my jaw. On the one hand, I absolutely did not want to talk about it. On the other hand, it was kind of refreshing to have someone straight-upaskinstead of whispering behind my back, digging for whatever sounded juicy and scandalous rather than giving a damnabout the truth. “Yeah, I knew”—eventually. “And it wasn’t a onetime thing.”

“How did you find out?”

“I caught her.”

Fiona’s jaw dropped. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!”

“Twice.”

I wasn’t about to tell herwhereI’d caught her. Fiona had been a wreck on the day of her parents’ funeral. She definitely didn’t need to know that while she’d been crying over her sandwiches and potato salad during the post-funeral luncheon, my wife had been fooling around with another man in the Caffertys’ mudroom.

Fiona slapped her hand against her mouth. “Eli! That’s awful.”

I looked down at my boots. “Listen, I really don’t feel comfortable gossiping?—”

---