Midnight Promises. Sherryl Woods

small Roman Catholic church in Serenity stood the man who’d changed Karen Ames’s mind about love, convincing her that the past was just that, over and done with. He’d promised her enduring love, a true partnership, and he’d shown her those traits time and again during their long courtship.

       At a tug on her skirt, Karen leaned down to look into the excited face of her six-year-old daughter, Daisy.

       “When are we getting married?” Daisy asked, practically bouncing up and down in anticipation.

       Karen smiled at her eagerness. After too many years with no father figure around, Daisy and Mack had fallen as deeply in love with Elliott Cruz as Karen had. And in many ways, it was his kind and generous relationship with her children that had convinced Karen that Elliott was nothing like her first husband, a man who’d abandoned them all, leaving behind a mountain of debt.

       “I want to be married to Elliott,” Daisy said with another tug in the direction of the altar. “Let’s hurry.”

       Karen checked her four-year-old son to assure that Mack hadn’t stripped off the tie she’d put on for him earlier or managed to douse his new suit with soda. She also assured herself that the wedding rings were still firmly attached to the pillow he would carry down the aisle.

       Dana Sue Sullivan, her boss, friend and matron-of-honor, touched a hand to her shoulder. “Everything’s good, Karen. How are your nerves?”

       “Dancing a jig,” she responded candidly. “And then I look inside and see Elliott waiting there, and everything settles.”

       “Then keep your eyes on him,” Dana Sue advised. “And let’s get this show on the road before these two leave without us.”

       She glanced down at Daisy and Mack, who were already inching from the foyer into the church.

       At some signal Karen didn’t even notice, the organist began to play for their entrance. Daisy took off down the aisle almost at a run, scattering rose petals with enthusiasm. Then, at some whispered comment, she grinned, glanced back at her mother and slowed to a more sedate pace. Mack was right on her heels, his expression solemn, a tiny frown puckering his brow until he’d safely reached Elliott’s side.

       Dana Sue followed, winking at her husband who was sitting at the front of her church, then smiling broadly at Elliott, who was running a nervous finger under the collar of his shirt.

       Karen took a last deep breath, reminded herself that this time her marriage was going to be forever, that she’d finally gotten it right.

       She lifted her gaze until she met Elliott’s, then took that first confident, trusting step down the aisle into the future that promised to be everything her first marriage hadn’t been.

      1

      Now that fall was just around the corner, Karen Cruz was experimenting with a new navy bean soup recipe for tomorrow’s lunch at Sullivan’s when sous-chef and friend Erik Whitney peered over her shoulder, gave an approving nod, then asked, “So, are you excited about the gym Elliott’s going to open with us?”

       Startled by the seemingly out-of-the-blue question, Karen spilled the entire box of sea salt she was holding into the soup. “My husband’s opening a gym? Here in Serenity?”

       Obviously taken aback by her puzzled reaction, Erik winced. “I take it he hasn’t told you?”

       “No, he hasn’t said a word,” she responded. Unfortunately, it was increasingly typical that when it came to the important things in their marriage, the things they should be deciding jointly, she and Elliott didn’t have a lot of discussions. He made the decisions, then told her about them later. Or, as in this case, didn’t bother informing her at all.

       After dumping the now inedible batch of soup out, Karen started over, then spent the next hour stewing over this latest example of Elliott’s careless disregard for her feelings. Each time he did something like this, it hurt her, chipping away at her faith that their marriage was as solid as she’d once believed it to be, that he was a man who’d never betray her as her first husband had.

       Elliott was the man who’d pursued her with charm and wit and determination. It was his sensitivity to her feelings that had ultimately won her over and convinced her that taking another chance on love wouldn’t be the second biggest mistake of her life.

       She drew in a deep breath and fought for calm, doing her best to come up with a reasonable explanation for Elliott’s silence about a decision that could change their lives. It was true that he did have a habit of trying to protect her, of not wanting her to worry, especially about money. Maybe that was why he’d kept this news from her. He had to know she’d react negatively, especially right now.

       They were, after all, planning to add a baby to their family. Now that her two children from that previous disaster of a marriage—Mack and Daisy—were both settled in school and on an even keel after the many upheavals in their young lives, the timing finally seemed right.

       But between Elliott’s fluctuating income as a personal trainer at The Corner Spa and her barely above-minimum-wage pay here at the restaurant, adding to their family had taken careful consideration. She’d wanted never again to be in the same financial mess she’d been in when she and Elliott had first met. He knew that. So where on earth was the money to come from to invest in this new venture of his? There was no savings for a new business. Unless, she thought, he intended to borrow it from their baby fund. The possibility sent a chill down her spine.

       And then there was the whole issue of loyalty. Maddie Maddox who ran the spa, Karen’s boss, Dana Sue Sullivan, and Erik’s wife, Helen Decatur-Whitney, owned The Corner Spa and had made Elliott an integral part of the team there. They’d also gone way above and beyond for Karen when she’d been a struggling single mom. Helen had even taken in Karen’s kids for a while. How could Elliott consider just walking out on them? What kind of man would do that? Not the kind she’d thought she’d married, that was for sure.

       Though she’d started out trying to rationalize Elliott’s decision to keep her in the dark, apparently the strategy hadn’t worked. She was stirring the fresh pot of soup so vigorously, Dana Sue approached with a worried frown.

       “If you’re not careful, you’re going to puree that soup,” Dana Sue said quietly. “Not that it won’t be delicious that way, but I’m assuming it wasn’t part of your plan.”

       “Plan?” Karen retorted, anger creeping right back into her voice despite her best intention to give Elliott a chance to explain what had been going on behind her back. “Who plans anything anymore? Or sticks to the plan, if they do have one? No one I know, or if they do, they don’t bother to discuss these big plans with their partner.”

       Dana Sue cast a confused look toward Erik. “What am I missing?”

       “I mentioned the gym,” Erik explained, his expression guilt-ridden. “Apparently Elliott hadn’t told her anything about it.”

       When Dana Sue merely nodded in understanding, Karen stared at her in dismay. “You knew, too? You knew about the gym and you’re okay with it?”

       “Well, sure,” Dana Sue said as if it were no big deal that Elliott, Erik and whoever else wanted to open a business that would compete with The Corner Spa. “Maddie, Helen and I signed off on the idea the minute the guys brought it to us. The town’s been needing a men’s gym for a long time. You know how disgusting Dexter’s is. That’s why we opened The Corner Spa exclusively for women in the first place. This will be an expansion of sorts. We’re actually going to be partnering with them. They have a sound business plan. More important, they’ll have Elliott. He has the expertise and reputation to draw in clients.”

       Karen ripped off her apron. “Well, isn’t that just the last straw?” she muttered. Not only were her husband, her coworker and her boss in on this, but so were her friends. Okay, maybe that meant Elliott wasn’t being disloyal, as she’d first feared, except, of course to her. “I’m taking my break early, if you don’t