“That sounds romantic. Getting married on the spot because you know in your soul that you want to be with someone for the rest of your life—” Cindy’s voice broke as she fought back tears. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be so upset. I’ve only known Drew afewdays.”
“That’s all it takes,” Madison said. “So, you said you’d lied to him about somethings…”
“Well, for starters, my name’s not Sharon. It’sCindy.”
“Okay,” Madison saidslowly.
Cindy launched into the full story. She didn’t leave anything out. There was no point in hiding anymore. The more she revealed, the lighter her heart felt. By the time she finished talking, she didn’t hurt as much as she had when Drew had stormed out ofherroom.
Madison opened her mouth to speak just as the tea kettle began toshriek.
“Let me get that,”Cindysaid.
She jumped up and grabbed the pot. After pouring steaming water into both mugs, she took a box of tea bags off of a shelf in the pantry. When she returned, she chose a bag of chamomile tea, while Madison chosepeppermint.
“You’ve been through a lot,”Madisonsaid.
“I just wish Drew would understand,”Cindysaid.
“He’ll comearound.”
“I don’t know. You should have seen the look on his face. He wasfurious.”
“I’ve known the Grant brothers for months now,” Madison said. “They are the sweetest, most caring, protective men I’ve ever met. I had an ex-fiancé, not quite as insane as your ex, but close. He couldn’t hold a candle to Mack. They weren’t even in the same stratosphere as far as men are concerned. I still don’t know what the hell I was thinking when I agreed tomarryBen.”
“We all make mistakes,”Cindysaid.
“That’s an understatement. I wish I’d known how to spot a controlling piece of crap when I’d met my ex… although if I hadn’t gone through everything I went through with him, then I wouldn’t have met Mack,”Madisonsaid.
“True.”
“Give Drew time to calm down. The boys can be hot-headed at first, but eventually they do the rightthing.”
“Thank you.” Cindy reached across the table to squeeze Madison’s hand. “It’s nice to be able to talk to someone who understands what I wentthrough.”
“Anytime you need to talk, I’m here,”Madisonsaid.
“Thanks.”
A smile lit up Madison’s face. For the first time since they’d sat down, the dark circles under her eyes were gone. A sparkle of mischief entered her sky-blue eyes. She leaned forward and in a conspiratorial tone asked, “How was heinbed?”
Cindy choked on her tea, spewing it out of her nose. She grabbed a napkin and mopped up the liquid, while laughing. When she could finally catch her breath again, she leaned forward and whispered, “Phenomenal.”
* * *
Drew walkedinto Sheriff Hunt’soffice.
“I was in town when you called the house,” Drew said. “Mack told me tostopby.”
The sheriff stood and shookhishand.
“Glad you could come in. I haven’t seen you in awhile.”
“I try to stay out of trouble.” Drew grinned for a second before taking on a more somber attitude. He slid into a chair in front of the desk. “So, you found out about Sharon… or Cindy, Iguess.”
“Her real name is Cindy Templeton. She’s a doctor from Los Angeles with about fifty acronyms behind her name. She specializes in pregnantwomen.”
Drew sat back as he took in the information. If she had that many credentials, she had to besmart.
