Lined With Silver by Roseanne Evans Wilkins

family-friendly,
is it?” Sondra asked.
    He stepped back and looked it over. “I don’t
think I have to worry about that any time soon, do you?”
    Of course he didn’t. Those words had popped
out. On their own. With no help. Remembering his earlier behavior
during their trip, she threw up her hands and quoted, “I was just
making conversation. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
    “Touché.” He opened the passenger door and
helped her climb in. He observed, “I can see I’ll need to get a
stepstool before I take you anywhere.”
    “Are we going to make a habit of this?”
    “You never know.”
    Sondra sat quietly, trying to figure out what
he meant by his comments. He was sending so many mixed signals, she
had no idea where he was going.
    For this evening, at least, they would
pretend that their relationship was not just going somewhere but
staying solidly where it was supposed to be. Given the fact that
the reason for their wedding was already in her belly, she needed
to play this game convincingly.
    Mr. Wellingford and his steady wife, both
white with age and well rounded with years of good food, were
acting as greeters at the door. Mr. Wellingford was usually the
center of attention, but Sondra was suspicious he was standing at
the door to get a first glimpse of her mysterious husband. Necks
all around the room craned at Mr. Wellingford’s booming voice. “So
nice to finally meet the husband. Did you say he was taking on your
name?”
    Oh. If the floor would only open. Like right
now. Sondra snuck a glance at Zack, who seemed startled by the
announcement. She steered him and the Wellingfords away from the
door, where the guests were beginning to back up. As she walked,
she assured Mr. Wellingford, “Actually, I don’t remember us
discussing anything like that, but I was planning on being Mrs.
Carlson everywhere but at work.”
    “And why would you keep your name there?”
    “I thought it would be challenging to change
the name on all my business cards, letterheads, and all the courts
where I work. It is so much easier to leave my name the way it
is.”
    “All the paperwork isn’t that big of a deal.
Doesn’t it all end up in the trash anyway? I think you can go ahead
and make the change.” Mr. Wellingford’s booming voice didn’t need a
microphone.
    Sondra stilled a frustrated sigh. “I’m sure I
could. I just want to keep my business and personal life
separate.”
    His double chin waggled when he nodded. “I
can see the wisdom in that.” To her relief, Zack arrived with hot
chocolate, steam rising from the cups. Keeping Mr. Wellingord’s
mouth busy was a good move. She politely excused herself and moved
toward the other side of the room where the head of the firm was
mixing with guests.
    Cari met Sondra and Zack in the middle of the
room. “Hi, I’m Cari. I’m Sondra’s—”
    “Right hand man.” Sondra interrupted. “She
keeps my life running smoothly. I rely on her for everything.”
    Zack shook her hand politely, and Cari looked
like she was sizing him up. Her face spelled approval. “Take good
care of Sondra.” She glanced at her. “Not that she can’t take care
of herself.”
    He chuckled. “No worries.”
    Sondra slid a hand under his arm. “He served
in Afghanistan. He’s very qualified.” She smiled up at him and then
led him to meet Mr. Andrews.
    They spent the next couple of hours shuffling
through Sondra’s clients and the firm’s employees. As they settled
at a table to enjoy some snacks, Sondra scooted her chair close to
Zack’s. She leaned against him and promptly fell asleep, her mouth
open. Zack was talking to Jake Andrews regarding software ownership
law when he was interrupted by a distinctly unusual sound.
    Cari, who had chosen to sit next to her boss,
sat and stared for a moment. “I didn’t know Sondra snored. Does it
bother you?”
    Zack looked momentarily stunned. Recovering
quickly, he ad-libbed. “No. It doesn’t bother me. I love everything
about