Enemy Lovers by Shelley Munro

closing.”
    â€œSend me a text, and I’ll ring you back if I can.” A sharp rap sounded on her car window. “Got to go. Talk to you later.” Laura shoved her phone in her pocket. Her heart thumped in a crazy boom-boom-boom , but she maintained her mother’s gaze without a falter and even added a small smile as she opened her door and stepped from the car. “I promised to ring my friend when I arrived. After last weekend they were worried.”
    â€œYes, well. I don’t know why you insist on working in Napier. If you hurry, you’ll have time to freshen up before James arrives for pre-dinner drinks.” Her mother was dressed in a smart navy dress that contrasted with her steel-gray hair. A pale blue shawl draped her shoulders to keep out the early evening chill.
    â€œHow nice. I’m looking forward to seeing him again.” Not . But it was an opportunity to tell James where she stood on the subject of marriage.
    â€œWhy are you wearing jeans? I hope you brought something suitable to change into for dinner.”
    â€œI have clothes in my bedroom.” Laura retrieved her bag and linked arms with her mother for the walk to the front door. Colors—purple, yellow, white, and deep blue drew her eye and the riot of flowery scents brought memories of the carefree days of childhood. “The gardens look beautiful. I love the contrast of the bed of purple flowers and the white of the house.”
    â€œThey should look good,” her mother said, not sparing a glance at the showcase gardens. “That’s what we pay for. Your father is in his study, finishing a business call. Aaron is showering. Rochelle and Katherine aren’t coming tonight. Oh, you’d better try on your bridesmaid dress. You’ve put on weight.”
    One. Two. Three. Laura counted under her breath, fisted her hands at her sides. “I’m sure the dress will fit fine. How are the wedding plans going? Did the rehearsal dinner go well last night?”
    â€œEverything was fine, although if I were Elaine, I’d have put a bomb under the wedding planner. One hopes the woman holds things together better during the actual ceremony.”
    â€œI’m sure everything will be wonderful. That’s what rehearsal dinners are for—to iron out potential problems.”
    â€œYes, well.” Her mother flapped her hands in a shoo motion. “Go and change before James arrives. You don’t want to give a bad impression. He’s such a lovely man.”
    Laura didn’t waste breath arguing. “I won’t be long.”
    She dressed to impress in one of her favorite little black dresses. It skimmed her curves and the deep neckline drew attention to her breasts. A diamond and sapphire pendant and matching earrings completed her outfit. She twisted her hair into a messy up-do, redid her makeup to emphasize her eyes and finished her look with a spritz of a new ginger and sandalwood perfume.
    The distant peal of the doorbell told her she’d aced her timing for her arrival downstairs. Neither parent would offer a lecture in the presence of guests. She walked into the lounge on the heels of James, greeted Aaron and his girlfriend. Laura kissed her father’s cheek and left him to bustle about getting drinks for everyone.
    â€œHello, James. How are you?” Time to confront her problem instead of skulking on the opposite side of the room—instead of hiding out in Napier. If James agreed with her mother, it was time to disabuse him of the idea.
    â€œI’ve been better.” His face was pale and drawn, his eyes puffy with lack of sleep. Like her, James was blond, but his eyes were a bright blue. Tonight they were the hue of a polluted sea. Something was amiss in James Land.
    â€œWe need to talk. In private.”
    â€œYes, we do.”
    He’d better not be thinking about marriage. She’d bop him on the head if he produced a ring. “Is Father