Almost Like Being in Love by Beth K. Vogt Page B

illusion that he was on the clock twenty-four hours a day. And Alex had driven the same car for the last seven years, so it was unlikely he would top her destination wedding surprise with an I-bought-a-new-car announcement.
    No one greeted her as she entered the front door. If she had to guess, her mother was probably busy with last-minute dinner preparations while Mr. Madison and her father sat out by the pool, talking business, and Alex indulged in whatever appetizer her mother had prepared. An unfamiliar blend of voices, capped off with her father’s deep laugh, broke the stillness inside the house.
    After slipping off her red ballet flats in the foyer, Caron beelined for the kitchen. Had her mother broken tradition and invited someone else to join them for dinner?
    A crisp white tablecloth covered the dining room table, which was set with her mother’s Villeroy & Boch Mariefleur china, each plate decorated with watercolor floral sprays. A quick count proved Caron’s suspicions correct—two extra places were set. Alex had already texted her to say his mother was staying home. Who else was joining them for dinner tonight?
    Just inside the archway from the dining room to the kitchen, she stopped. Nancy Miller. Why was she here?
    The woman wore a black, white, and red color-block dress paired with white platform wedge sandals. Her makeup was perfect, multiple layers of mascara thickening her lashes. Nancy Miller looked ready to face a bank of television cameras.
    â€œI hope everyone likes cheese-stuffed mushrooms.” Nancy picked up a glass tray from the kitchen counter. “This is one of my favorite recipes.”
    â€œThey smell delicious.” Her mother noticed Caron standing off to the side, offering her a welcome hug. “Caron. When did you get here?”
    â€œJust now.” Caron returned her mother’s embrace, nodding to Nancy over her mother’s shoulder. “Nice to see you.”
    And if she’d been younger, her mother would have washed her mouth out with soap for telling a lie.
    â€œGood to see you, too.” The other woman’s response sounded genuine.
    â€œNow that everyone is here—”
    â€œThe Madisons are here?”
    â€œYes. Alex and his father walked over.” Caron’s mother motioned toward the family room. “Alex’s mom is under the weather. She’s got a bad headache.”
    Ah. So Mrs. Madison was still struggling with the anniversary of Shawn’s death.
    The open window between the kitchen and family room framed a quartet of men seated on the leather sectional in the Hollister family room. Had Nancy Miller’s husband come, too?
    â€œWhy don’t I take the appetizer in to the others?”
    â€œThat would be great, Nancy. You can tell them that dinner should be ready in about fifteen minutes.” Her mother pulled a large ceramic bowl full of tossed green salad from the fridge. “Caron, don’t you want to go say hello to Alex?”
    â€œSure.” She’d do that. Once she got used to the reality that Nancy Miller was here. “Do you need any help?”
    â€œEverything’s under control.” From the vivid colors of the fresh green salad her mother topped with a fine layer of shredded Parmesan cheese, Caron couldn’t argue with her mother’sassessment. “All I need to do is remind your father to check on the pork loin on the grill and get the side dishes on the table.”
    â€œWhy are Nancy Miller and her husband here?”
    â€œYour father came home and told me that he’d invited Nancy Miller and her boyfriend to dinner tonight.” Her mother set several different bottles of salad dressing on the kitchen counter.
    â€œI thought this was going to be a family dinner. After what happened two weeks ago, don’t you think it’s going to be uncomfortable enough without her being here?”
    â€œI’m sure since we’re all adults, we can