Bonds of Trust by Lynda Aicher Page A

woman who so recently told me love is an illusion easily shattered by reality.” She plopped down in an empty chair and gave a sardonic lift of her sculpted brow. Her wide mouth wrinkled in amusement that matched the spark of her coffee-colored eyes.
    “I did.” Cali nodded, pausing to take a sip of her water. “And I believe that. But new love is nice to watch.” She looked over at Lacey and Paul, who still touched each other with that freshness of needed contact. Cali was truly happy for them. “And who knows, maybe their love will meet with a gentle reality.”
    “Right.” The sarcasm wasn’t lost as Allie reached across the table for the open bottle of Merlot and refilled her glass. The thirty-seven-year-old lawyer had her own opinions on love and marriage that weren’t that far from Cali’s. She stared at Cali’s water. “You’re not drinking today?”
    “No. I have work to do later.”
    “On a Sunday?”
    “Yeah.” Cali glanced away from her friend’s penetrating stare. “The owner of the book store is going out of town and wants to review some numbers before she leaves.” Cali took care of the bookkeeping for a few of the local stores. What had started off as a favor to a friend ten years ago had grown into a profitable business. She was always mildly surprised at the number of people who could open and run a business but had no idea how to manage their accounts.
    Allie shook her head, her curly hair bouncing around her shoulders. “Life of the self-employed is not as glamorous as everyone makes it out to be.”
    Cali nodded in agreement, even though she really loved the control self-employment gave her.
    “Of course,” Allie continued, the sarcasm still heavy in her voice, “life as a wannabe law partner isn’t all that great, either.”
    “They’re still giving you the run around?” Cali asked, referring to the law firm where Allie worked.
    Allie gave a dismissive shrug and took a drink of her wine. “Whatever. There’s not much I can do short of leaving and starting my career over. But hey, this is a party and we’re supposed to be enjoying ourselves on this gorgeous day.”
    Cali studied the clear blue sky and smiled wistfully. Having a seventy-degree weekend in October was a bonus Minnesotans didn’t take for granted. She smoothed a hand over the tiny wrinkle in the skirt of her fitted dress and wished she’d taken the time to re-iron it before the party started. But she’d been running late and had promised Evan and Edith she’d help set up the courtyard. Evan, of course, took care of most of the planning arrangements, but Cali was the execution person.
    And every detail was perfect.
    It was relaxed, nice and exactly what she needed to keep her thoughts off her own problems.
    Moving into the condo complex was one of the best decisions Cali made after her divorce. Ending her marriage had been difficult. And getting out of the house and the neighborhood filled with families and memories a necessity. No one understood why she’d divorced her husband. But then, no one understood just how lonely and empty she’d been behind the facade of suburban soccer mom extraordinaire.
    Being sexually ignored by your husband wasn’t something you shared with your neighbors. As if they’d even believe that her perfect husband hadn’t touched her intimately in over seven years.
    It was way less shameful to let them think she was having a mid-life crisis. And maybe she was. However, she preferred to think of it as a mid-life correction.
    Cali shifted in her chair then stood. She rubbed a hand over her churning stomach at the thought of the “correction” course she’d taken two nights ago. She hid the telling action by moving around the table to pick up empty plates and cups.
    “Do you need some help?” Allie asked without moving from her relaxed slump against the plastic patio chair.
    “No, you’re fine.”
    “Good. Because I’m almost drunk enough to make another pass at the hunky