Whisper Beach by Shelley Noble Read Free Book Online Page B

disappointment in a life of disappointments had driven her over the edge. He was the last person she had totally trusted. And he’d betrayed her.
    â€œOr was it because while you two were broke up, he and Dana had a little fling? Not that he ever cared a whit for the likes of her.”
    â€œHow did you know that?”
    â€œGigi told me.”
    Van was appalled to feel tears spring to her eyes. She was thirty years old, and a teenage crush could bring her to tears? She looked away, trying to pull herself together.
    She saw a white tissue appear in front of her nose. Recognized Dottie’s Aren’t You Something red polish.
    â€œBecause if it was that, I have two . . .” Dorie counted on her fingers. “Three words for you. Get. Over. It.”
    â€œIt wasn’t,” Van said, and sniffed. “Nobody carries a torch for a high school sweetheart for all this time.”
    â€œThen what was it?”
    â€œIt’s what happened after . . . the spat.”
    Van was aware of Suze’s arrested attention. Dorie leaned forward. Here it was. Dorie deserved an explanation. And now that it was time, Van looked forward to getting it all out. Sort of. She took a breath. Just start. She had no doubt the rest of the story would pour out. It had been bottled up long enough.
    â€œI got pregnant.”
    Suze looked down at her wineglass.
    Dorie narrowed her eyes. “And for that you left town and were never heard from again until today?”
    â€œUm, Dorie?” Suze said.
    Dorie waved her away. “Don’t you think that’s a little melodramatic? Even for an Irish girl? Joe woulda done right by you. You know he would.”
    Van and Suze exchanged looks. “It didn’t matter. I lost the baby.”
    â€œLost or . . . ?” Dorie left the end of the question unasked, but Van knew what she was saying.
    â€œI miscarried. Ask Suze.”
    Suze nodded confirmation.
    Dorie turned on Suze. “You knew about this and didn’t call me? Of all the—”
    â€œI couldn’t. I had my hands full at the time. I nearly called.” She stopped to give Van an apologetic look. “Van almost died.She waited so long before she called that by the time I drove to Manhattan and got her to the hospital, she’d nearly bled to death.”
    â€œBut I still don’t see why you had to run in the first place. Did you even tell Joe?”
    Van shook her head.
    â€œBecause of Dana? Gigi told me you caught them going at it. But that didn’t last long enough for her to get her clothes back on. He loved you. We all thought you two would end up getting married. You could have been married before the baby came.”
    Van stood up abruptly. Walked to the window. The old anger, hurt, and humiliation overflowed into the present. When the words came, they were harsh and louder than she’d meant. “It wasn’t Joe’s baby.”
    She stood facing the two women, defiant. At least it was out. That part was out at least.
    â€œWell, hell,” Dorie said, her voice subdued. “Are you sure it wasn’t Joe’s?”
    â€œPositive.”
    Dorie looked at her hard. Raised her eyebrows in question.
    Van shook her head and Dorie let out a big sigh. Evidently still not convinced, she asked, “You and Joe never . . . ?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œAnd the father?”
    â€œI don’t know. I don’t remember his name. I’m not sure I even knew it then. I just had a knee-jerk reaction and . . .” She ended with a shrug.
    â€œYou always were so responsible.”
    â€œAnd the one time I wasn’t, look where it got me.”
    â€œDid you tell your father?”
    Van nodded. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I wasn’t thinking. He was yelling at me about something else, and I just blurtedit out.” After all these years, knowing that his words could still hurt was appalling. “He told me I was a whore just like