LITMIR.BIZ

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they’d probably both wind up stretched out on Pine Street in the middle of downtown, praying to get run over by a reindeer. Except it was too early for Santa and his reindeer to be out cruising.

      “I think the male population in Whispering Pines is shrinking.” Noel heaved another sigh. Then she cast a guilty look in Riley’s direction. “But you know what? We’re not going to think about that tonight,” she said with a determined nod.

      “Thirty-one, and there’s still no one, not even a glimpse of someone on the horizon,” Noel said a millisecond later.

      Jilted brides and empty horizons—oh, yes, this was going to be a fun evening.

      Another guilty glance shot Riley’s way. “I’m sorry. Listen to me, going on like Princess Pitiful when you’re the one who’s suffering. I’m sorry, Riley. I’m sorry Sean was such a jerk and Emily was such a rotten friend. But like I said, we’re not going to think about that. Tonight we’re going to have fun.”

      Fun.

      Noel pointed a finger at nothing in particular. “You know, I never really liked her. Remember when we were at her place and she had that box of chocolates on the counter? She never offered to share. And they were Godiva! What kind of friend doesn’t share her chocolates?”

      That had been last month. Had those chocolates come from Sean?

      They drove through downtown (which took all of five minutes). Santa’s elves had already been busy because twinkle lights now dangled over Pine Street, and the light posts were decorated with giant candy canes and red ribbons. Everything looked festive and happy. Happy holidays. Bah, humbug.

      “But you know what?” Noel continued as they turned the corner onto Jo’s block. “Tonight is all about forgetting your troubles, and we’re not—”

      “—going to think about it,” Riley finished with her. She was glad when they reached Jo’s house. Maybe now they really could stop thinking. And talking.

      Jo was still looking picture-perfect in her maternity jeans and black sweater, an Italian charm bracelet dangling from her wrist. No matter how tired she got, she always managed to look perfect. The eggnog was ready, spiked for Riley, alcohol-free for Jo and Noel, who wasn’t much of a drinker.

      “Eggnog!” Noel cried happily. “That’s enough to make us forget our troubles.”

      “Until we step on the scale tomorrow,” Jo cracked and took a sip of hers. “Except I’m drinking for two. Probably for another nine months at the rate I’m going. This baby’s taking her own sweet time.”

      “She’ll be here any day,” Riley said. Her sister was having a girl and had the ultrasound to prove it. She also had a dresser full of cute outfits so her little girl could be as stylin’ as she was.

      “I’m ready. I’m more than ready. I have cleaned this house from top to bottom.”

      “It looks great,” said Noel.

      Jo’s house always looked great. It was like an ad for Crate & Barrel. Chocolate-brown leather sofa and matching chairs, an expensive, thick throw rug over hardwood floors, her cupboards stocked with artisan stoneware. Tonight an arrangement of fall flowers in a long vase sat on her antique dining table, and she had a balsam-scented candle burning.

      “I even cleaned the grout in the shower,” she told them. “Mom says it’s that final burst of energy before the baby comes. I sure hope she knows what she’s talking about. I’d like to see my feet again.”

      “I thought expectant mothers were supposed to, like, glow,” Noel said with a frown.

      “I left glowing behind two months ago,” Jo informed her.

      “But you’re going to have a baby!”

      Jo did smile at that and rubbed her bulging belly.

      Wait a minute. What was wrong with her sister’s smile? The lips were in the right position but something was missing.

      “Are you all right?” Riley asked her.

      “Me? Of course I’m all right.”

      “Are you sure?”

      Jo’s chin went up a notch, a sign that she wasn’t all right at all.

      Riley’s stomach started churning her eggnog. She set down her mug. “What’s going on?”

      Jo shrugged and downed the last of her drink. “Nothing.”

      “Okay, something is definitely wrong,” Riley said.

      “Not really wrong, just...not right. I don’t know if I want to stay married to Mike.”

      Riley could feel her eyes bugging. “What? You and Mike have a great marriage. What are you talking about?”

      “There’s nothing great about him being gone all the time,” Jo snapped. “He wants to re-up.”

      “Reenlist? You guys already talked about that,” Riley said.

      “We did. And I thought we had it settled. Obviously, we don’t, not according to the email I just got.” Jo frowned. “All he can see is that big bonus he’ll get. He thinks we need it now that we’ve got the baby coming.”

      “Well, his motives are good,” said Noel.

      “No, they’re not. He’s just being greedy.”

      “Maybe he’s worried about finding a job once he gets out,” Riley suggested. Mike was a nice guy. He would never cheat on his woman. Jo had no idea how lucky she was.

      “He’d have no trouble getting a job. He’ll be in high demand. That’s why they’re offering him such a big signing bonus. I told him it’s either me or the navy. If he re-ups it’s anchors aweigh. We’re through.”

      Jo had dashed all over the emotional landscape during the last few months. Riley was sure this was simply one more case of whacked-out hormones. “You shouldn’t make any big decision like that right now. And anyway, Mike loves you. And you’re about to have a baby, for crying out loud.”

      Tears started leaking from Jo’s eyes. “I don’t want to raise this baby alone.”

      “You won’t be,” Riley assured her. “Yeah, Mike goes out to sea but he always comes back to you.”

      “He’s gone for months at a time,” Jo said, wiping her eyes.

      “But we’re all here.”

      “It’s not the same. In the end it’ll be me and Annabelle alone in this place. It’ll be me up all night when she’s sick, just me at the PTO meetings and the school plays. He’ll be off...somewhere, keeping the world safe. Super Squid in a sub,” Jo said bitterly.

      “But think how noble—he’s serving his country,” Noel pointed out.

      “I know, but he’s been doing it for eight years. Isn’t that enough? Can’t he let someone else take a turn?”

      This was obviously a rhetorical question, so Riley didn’t respond. Instead she said, “You really need to think about this, sis. If you split with Mike you’ll be even more alone.”

      “I’ll replace him.”

      “You don’t mean that,” Riley said sternly.

      Jo sighed. “I don’t know what I mean. I’m just so...mad.”

      It was all Riley could do not to tell her to get over it. But that would be unkind and not very helpful. This was hormones talking. Had to be. So she decided to say, “Mike’s a good man, and it’s darn hard to find a good man.” This was something she was now an expert on.

      “Yeah, he’s practically perfect,” Noel added.

      “There’s no such thing as a perfect man,” Jo said in disgust.

      “I’ll

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