Slowly, Riley shook her head. “No. It’s not like that. It was a fling between me and Josh. He’s a dear friend, and I trust him implicitly—and he feels the same about me. So for a while, we were…together. But that’s over now.” Too bad Josh didn’t know it yet. But he would very soon—and where was she? “Um, Josh and I have agreed to raise the baby as a team. But we’re not in love, and we’re not…getting married or anything.”
“Oh!” Annette’s puffy eyes widened. “But now that you’re pregnant, don’t you think that getting married is the right thing to do?”
“Sorry, but it’s not like that. I’m not getting married again.”
Annette’s mouth was hanging open now. “Are you saying youdon’twant marriage, even with a baby on the way?”
“That is exactly what I’m saying, Annette. I loved TJ, and I miss him every day. And I don’twantto get married to anyone else. I’m a single mom now, and that’s not going to change.”
“How does Joshua feel about that?” Annette asked cautiously.
“Josh is a good guy. So, yes, he just might agree to marry me if I wanted that.”
“Well, then. Let’s explore that option.”
“Annette. No. I will say it again. I loved my husband. And I’m not getting married to anyone else.”
“Well, I…” Annette gave a pained little laugh. “Ahem. I think I just might be feeling judgy again…”
They stared at each other.
Annette was the one to laugh first.
A moment later, Riley joined in. They grabbed each other in another hug and held on tight as they laughed together about the wonder, confusion and sheer ridiculousness of life.
“I still don’t approve,” said Annette when the laughter had faded and they slumped side by side against the sofa cushions.
“Got it,” Riley replied.
“But I’m here for you no matter what—for you, for Dillon and for the new baby, too.”
“Thank you. That means so much.” Riley couldn’t resistadding, “And I really think you ought to give Miles a chance.”
Annette pretended to scowl. “I could never…”
“Oh yes, you could. Just think about. That’s all I’m asking. He’s a good man, and if you don’t say yes to him, some other woman will.”
* * *
“Oh, thank God you’re here!” Lenore announced in her usual drama-queen stage voice when Josh and Shane showed up at eleven on Saturday morning. “The party’s in two hours, and the disposal has stopped working…”
Before Josh could decide how to respond to that announcement, Lenore dropped to a crouch and pulled Shane close. “Hello, sweetheart. Happy birthday to my big, strong boy.” She kissed him on one cheek and then the other.
Shane gazed around the family room in sheer delight. “So many balloons, Mom! I can’t wait for everyone to get here. Can I please see my cake?”
“Of course you can, darling.” She took his hand and led him to the table by the peninsula that marked off the kitchen area. The large sheet cake there was decorated with space modules, astronaut figures, rockets, stars, planets and moons—and glitter-dusted blue candles.
“Wow! A space station cake. Cool!”
“You like it?”
“I do, Mom. I really do…”
“I’m so glad.” She bent and kissed his cheek again. “Now, why don’t you carry your things to your room and let me talk to your dad for a minute or two?”
“O-kay!” Shane marched back to Josh. “’Bye, Dad! Hug!” He held up his arms.
Josh dipped to a crouch and pulled him close. “Happy birthday, son.”
