Jenna’s auburn hair gleamed in the light. “Congratulations. Before Olivia left the States for Kedar, she told me you’ve taken a job with her, sweetie.”
“Yes.” They walked into the living room of the sprawling house, where Jenna had done the interior design. “I haven’t been here since you finished. This place is gorgeous. Olivia told me you used some pieces from the shop,” she said, but Jenna had picked up on her tone, which lacked sufficient enthusiasm.
“You don’t like the work there?”
“I like it, quite a lot actually, but I’m kind of under the weather tonight. Just sleep deprivation probably, and I’d be home in bed except I didn’t want to disappoint you again.”
“Still missing your tribe? How’s Harry doing with the kids?”
Elizabeth took a seat on a sofa in front of the fireplace. From the kitchen she could hear the clatter of plates and an oven door slamming. Water gushed from a faucet. “It’s more how the kids are doing with him,” she said. “Seth’s better—not as homesick—but now it’s Jordan. Stella’s been so quiet, even stoic, that I can’t read how she really feels. At any rate, Harry is Harry. I don’t think he was present in the same room with us as a family more than a couple of times a week. Even then, he was always the mayor, looking at his phone, answering messages on his laptop. I’d hoped for better this summer. For them.” She told Jenna he was looking for a job. “I mean, suppose he becomes mayor of some town in Iowa or Vermont?”
Jenna’s blue eyes sparkled. “He’d be out of your hair.”
“But also farther from the kids. I won’t have them divided like that, spending summers here and holidays wherever...”
“Let’s hope he chooses a position in the state. He’s not entirely irredeemable, is he?”
“You’re asking me?” Her question didn’t need an answer.
The front door opened then closed, and Elizabeth welcomed the interruption. Sound drifted from the entry hall. The others were all here, but she felt too weary to say more than a quick hello to each one. She really should have stayed home, but at that minute their hostess emerged from the kitchen to hug everyone, which virtually said Let the party begin. Elizabeth took a deep breath. She loved these women who had stood by her, but the subject of her divorce, a rehash of the scandal, would likely be on tonight’s agenda at some point. Unless she found an excuse to leave early.
She didn’t get that chance. Food was spread on the dining room table, wine was poured and talk sprinkled with laughter filled the air. It was Jenna who noticed that Cooper Ransom’s wife had chosen to drink water—and that Nell couldn’t suppress her broad smile.
“All right, Nell. What’s happened now?” The group had heard stories about her new marriage, and her love for Cooper, every time they met.
“We’re pregnant,” Nell announced. “Too early to tell yet, but Sawyer thinks it’s a boy. Everything’s fine, he says, right on schedule.”
Her last words were wiped out by the chorus of congratulations, more laughter and another round of hugs. Elizabeth participated, yet inside she held back. She might avoid any discussion now of the divorce, but hearing about other people’s babies wasn’t her favorite thing these days either. Then she realized she wasn’t the only one who’d moved back from the group and was seated on the sofa again, the huge ceiling fan whirring overhead to cool the room. Beside her, Jenna stared at her hands clenched in her lap.
“I’m so happy for them,” she said with a glance at Elizabeth. “Really, I am. Nell and Cooper were meant to be together. Now they’ll be a family too.”
Elizabeth covered Jenna’s hands with hers. She remembered Jenna’s wistful expression the last time they’d talked.
“Oh, Jen. You wish you could have a baby of your own, don’t you?”
Her face looked suddenly stricken. “It’s that obvious?”
“Have you talked to Hadley? Maybe there’s some way—”
“I’d be going back on my word. When he asked me to marry him, I said I was fine with the twins, and I am. You know I adore them, and it doesn’t bother him that I’m infertile, but wouldn’t it be lovely for them to somehow have a sibling before they get much older?”
Nell had turned from the rest of the group. “Private party?” she asked, still with that aura about her that reminded Elizabeth of a Madonna. The way she’d felt during her last pregnancy until...
Nell interrupted her thoughts. “Liza’s opening champagne. Join us.”
Nell drank more water while the others toasted her and Cooper, and everyone fought to see who would hold the baby shower. Elizabeth set aside her wine. Her already nervous stomach kept rolling.
Shutting out the happy talk in the room, Jenna leaned close. “You sure you’re okay? You look a bit chalky.”
Elizabeth glanced at Nell. Amid the chatter and celebration, she kept feeling worse. Day by day worse, if she were honest. “I’d kill for a good night’s sleep. I should go,” she said. “I need to catch up before the kids get home. It’s nothing, really, just this relentless fatigue and a bit of tummy trouble tonight.”
“I noticed you didn’t eat much.” Jenna’s gaze looked keen. “I don’t mean to throw a hand grenade into your life here, but what if, instead of all that, it’s something else?”
“What else could it be?”
“Elizabeth. What have we all been talking about nonstop this evening? Some of us more happily than others.” She arched one eyebrow. “I know it’s not a subject either of us feel comfortable with—my infertility, your miscarriage last year—but isn’t it possible?” Her voice softened. “After Dallas Maguire, I mean.”
Oh, God. She never should have said anything about that day with him. Elizabeth searched her mind for the pertinent details. “I told you, we used contraception. Why would you think I could be—?”
“Accidents happen.” Jenna drew back. “Never mind, I didn’t intend to say anything. Forget it.
