She sighed. This wouldn’t work unless she opened up. And it had to work.
“I just thought that it’s easier to talk to you rather than people I know. I know you’re not judging me, or if you are, you’re good at hiding it, and it doesn’t matter so much because we don’t really know each other.”
“Do you often worry people will judge you?”
“Not really. Well, sort of. I worry they’ll get tired of hearing about my issues.”
“You went through a terrible experience, Savannah. I don’t think people will judge you or think badly of you for wanting to speak of it. Especially not friends or family.”
“Actually, I don’t think my family cares in the slightest.”
Molly just waited in silence. It was a good trick. Savannah had thought about trying to use it on Logan when he was particularly stubborn, but she just didn’t have the patience. And the big guy could be really, really stubborn.
“My mother is a serial husband collector. She’s on number six.”
“Why do you think her marriages don’t last?”
“Because she’s a drama queen. Because everything that happens in the world affects her somehow. I swear, there can be a terrible earthquake in New Zealand, and my mother will claim mental distress because she saw a crushed building and had a dream she was inside it or some such shit. The thing is, men seem to fall for it. Her helpless, damsel in distress routine.”
“But they soon realize that romantic ideal of rescuing a damsel and being a hero isn’t one they want to act out again and again and again?”
“Exactly.” She should have known Molly would understand.
“And her issues mean she is always focused on herself. No one else.”
“Yep. The only time I ever felt like the focus was somewhat on me was when I was engaged.”
“Does she get on with Logan and Max?”
“Oh, hell, no. They can’t stand each other.” She grinned. “Logan calls her Drusilla.”
“But instead of Dalmatian skins, she collects husband’s souls?” Molly guessed.
“You’re quick.”
“Lots of cartoon watching when I was a kid.” Molly smiled wryly. “Did she try to talk you out of marrying them?”
“Yes, of course. She doesn’t understand why I want to live out here in the middle of nowhere, which to my mother is anywhere that doesn’t have a Macy’s. I swear she thinks I live in a dirt hut in Timbuktu.”
“But she was focused on you when she tried to talk you out of marrying them?”
“Oh, no, it was all about her. What would her friends think? What would she tell people? How could I hurt her like that? No, it wasn’t my engagement to Max and Logan I was talking about. It was my other engagement.”
“You were married before?”
“Nope. Didn’t make it to the altar. In fact, the day I met Max and Logan was the day I was supposed to get married. I was a runaway bride.”
“Seems to have worked out for you.”
“Oh, it did. Alistair wasn’t my choice. My mother introduced us. In fact, maybe I should suggest him to my mom for her next husband. They deserve each other.”
“What happened?”
“I came home from the gym early because, well, let’s just say there was a treadmill incident. I only went because my mother insisted I would feel better if I lost some weight before the wedding.” She glanced down at herself. “Guess she’d be thrilled at the way I look now. I found Alistair in bed with our next-door neighbor. She was married as well. Think she still is. He’s filthy, stinking rich. You’d think he could have rented a hotel room instead of doing it in our bed.”
“Maybe he wanted to get caught.”
Savannah stilled, startled by that revelation. “Maybe. I think he was getting a lot of pressure from his parents to marry me. They ran in the same circles as my mother. She was thrilled. It was the only time in my life when I felt like she really noticed me. Well, other than to nitpick my appearance, my choice to get a higher education and work, blah, blah, blah.”