Someone Like You by Susan Mallery

like a showroom special. She hoped that a couple of days in the local grocery store parking lot would take care of that.
    She entered her aunt’s home a little after five. “It’s me,” she called.
    Bev came out of the kitchen to greet her. “Better?” she asked.
    â€œNot half-bad. Except for being insulted by Pam Whitefield.”
    â€œNo one likes her, so her opinion doesn’t matter.”
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind. Oh, I talked to Gracie. She sent me a ficus tree. She said even I shouldn’t be able to kill it.”
    â€œI hope she’s right.”
    Bev waited until she’d shrugged out of her jacket be fore leading the way back to the kitchen.
    â€œHow was your day?” Jill asked.
    â€œGood. Emily and I had a terrific time. We spent the afternoon at the beach. Oh, speaking of which, you know it’s nearly the Fourth of July.”
    â€œI’d heard a rumor, yes.”
    â€œMac has to work so Emily will be joining us on our picnic.”
    Jill grabbed a diet soda from the refrigerator and popped the top. “Are we having a picnic?”
    â€œOf course. It’s what the holiday is about.”
    â€œHuh, and here I thought it was about celebrating our country’s independence.”
    â€œThat, too, but how could we celebrate without a picnic?”
    â€œI’m not complaining. I’m sure it will be fun.” Los Lobos was at its best during holidays of any kind.
    â€œGood. Now read this.” She held out a piece of paper.
    Jill grabbed it and read the note twice. “Oh, man. Do I have to?”
    â€œThe mayor has graciously invited you to join the pier centennial committee meeting tonight. Don’t you think you should go?”
    No. Not even for money. “I’m not going to be here that long. I don’t want to get involved in a project and then have to drop it halfway through.”
    Bev opened the refrigerator and pulled out a plastic pouch of marinating chicken. “I’m sure if youkeep repeating that, eventually it will sound like the truth.”
    â€œFine. I don’t want to go. I’ve never been a fan of the pier and the mayor isn’t my favorite person. He’s smarmy and I think he looks up women’s skirts.”
    â€œHave you seen him doing that?”
    â€œNo, but he seems like the type.” Jill stomped her foot and felt like a two-year-old. “Jeez, I hate this.” She looked back at the message her aunt had taken. “I’ll go but only if I get two desserts. One before and one after.”
    â€œI’ll even read your cards for you if you’d like.”
    Jill took a step back. “I’m not ready to know my future, but thanks for asking.” She glanced down at her slacks. “I need to go change. I hate this.”
    â€œI know, dear, but it’s for the best.”
    â€œThat’s what you used to say about going to the dentist.”
    â€œWas I wrong?”

CHAPTER SIX
    M OST SIGNIFICANT EVENTS in Los Lobos took place in the community center and the committee for the pier centennial celebration was no exception. Jill experienced a slight case of déjà vu as she pushed open one of the heavy double-glass doors.
    She’d attended Girl Scout meetings in this building, had decorated the largest room for various school dances. She’d had her first kiss out on the basketball courts on a rainy afternoon when she’d been seventeen. The boy in question—Kevin Denny—had quickly turned his attentions elsewhere, but to her that first kiss had been a huge deal.
    Tonight she was less enthused about stepping into a piece of her past. For one thing, she didn’t want to get assigned actual work involving the celebration. For an other, she dreaded answering questions about why she was back, how she was doing and what she thought would happen in the future. There was also the twenty-eight-and-soon-to-be-divorced syndrome to