Isabel flipped through the menu, thankful that their first meeting after not speaking for several days didn’t feel awkward. “Where are they sending him?”

“Miami. As usual. And then they can’t even tell him for sure how long he’ll be there. So I have no idea when to expect my husband back.”

“That sucks.” Isabel’s attempt to sound sympathetic was weak at best. This is what her sister wanted after all. And to think Pat wanted Isabel to end up with Jacob who was headed in the same direction. No thanks.

“Bell, the last thing I invited you here for is to argue. But Charles just told me about Romero.”

Isabel finally pulled her starving eyes away from the menu. “What about him, Pat?”

“Honey, his dad is in jail and his uncles own a topless bar?” Her sister’s mouth hung open and she shook her head. “I-I don’t even know where to start.”

“Then don’t.”

“I have to. Daddy is running for mayor and his daughter is associated with, dating—”

“Living with,” Isabel said, taking a sip of her water. “He moved in with me. We’re living together now.” She loved the way that sounded so she smiled.

Pat pressed her lips together. “Do you have any idea the amount of work that went into petitioning to get dad’s name on that ballot? Any idea at all how much work, time and money is going to go into campaigning for him to win this election?”

As much as she was starving, Isabel was one second away from getting up and walking out. “What does any of that have to do with me?”

Pat leaned in and lowered her voice. “You are living with a man whose family runs an establishment that degrades women and whose father is in jail doing time for who knows what. You don’t think the papers will have a field day if the word ever gets out?”

Isabel stared at her. She’d never looked at it that way. Would the press really care about her relationship with Romero? She shook her head. “How does Romero’s personal life or family’s life affect dad’s ability to govern a city? You’re being ridiculous. I came here to iron things out, but if this is what we’re going to argue about then I’m leaving.”

Her sister put her hand on her arm. “No, don’t leave.” She took a deep breath. “Fine. Lets talk about something else.”

“Thank you.”

“As soon as Charles gets back from this stupid trip of his, I want to throw him a party for his thirtieth birthday. It’s not until next month, but since we’re going to have so much going on with the campaign, I’ll take whatever weekend works out best between now and then. I was thinking maybe you could talk to Valerie about getting me a deal at her restaurant. I understand they have banquet rooms.”

Isabel peered at Pat over her menu. Funny, she thought she’d come here to get an apology for the way she’d spoke about Romero on the phone this week. Of course, this lunch was more self-serving for her sister than anything. She should’ve known. “Sure, I’ll ask her.”

“I hope the rooms are a good size because I’ll be inviting all of his friends and fellow Navy mates.” Her eyes met Isabel’s for a second before continuing to study the menu.

“Oh, they’re big enough. How many people did you have in mind?”

“A couple hundred, at least. This is why I wanted you to talk to Valerie for me. It’s going to end up costing me a small fortune, so I’m trying to figure out where I can cut down a little.”

As promised, the rest of the meal her sister never brought up Romero. Instead, she talked Isabel’s ear off about the campaign, then the party for Charles and finally she grilled Isabel about the classes she’d be taking in the fall. She did throw in a few mentions of Jacob and how he’d been sent out as stand-in Captain while the Captain of the ship could recoup from an injury. “Charles says he’ll make a great Captain someday.”

“Good. I’m happy for him.” She really was. “I remember that’s all he ever talked about just before he enlisted.”

Pat tilted her head. “You were so in love with him, Bell. You really don’t feel anything for him anymore?”

“First of all, I really don’t think I was ever in love with him, much less so in love.”

“Oh, come on. You were with him for over two years and he was your first everything. How could you not be?”

“I dunno, maybe I loved him, but honestly, now that I know what being in love really feels like, I know I’ve ever been in love before.” For a moment, she wished she could speak of Romero openly with her sister. “I’ve never felt what I feel for Romero for anyone—ever.”

She saw Pat’s mouth pinch to the side and she knew right there. That would be the most she’d ever be able to tell her about Romero. “I still think you were in love with Jacob. I know he has feelings for you. I also think that if you just gave him a chance—”

“Pat.”

Pat lifted her hands up in front of her. “Okay, okay. I’m just saying.”

“Well, don’t.”

On her drive home she thought of what Pat had said about Jacob. But she was one hundred percent sure about it now. Never, not even in the entire two years she’d gone out with Jacob, had she ever experienced what she had with Romero.

CHAPTER 17

Cici

This was the second time in a couple of weeks that Romero had wandered into a jewelry store at the mall. He’d gone there to check out the laptops at the home electronics store and just like the last time he was there, he ended up at a jewelry store. Just like last time, he told himself he was looking for a nice bracelet, maybe a necklace, something special Isabel could wear that came from him. And like the last time, he ended up looking at the engagement rings.