The Perfect Wife. Judy Duarte

made the mistake of going out with a couple of jerks at first, but learned to be more particular about the men she dated.

      Before long, she’d met Greg at a party. The handsome, bright and personable grad student was pursuing a master’s degree in business administration. And he also had a wealthy family.

      Miraculously, they hit it off immediately.

      Landing Greg Banning had been an incredible stroke of luck for a poor girl from Nowhere, Texas, and Carly was soon the envy of all the girls in her dorm.

      But now her luck had run out.

      And she was alone again.

      The entire singles scene seemed to be one big crap-shoot, so she wasn’t sure why Molly and Rebecca had insisted she celebrate.

      “You know,” Molly said, turning her attention to Rebecca, “while we’re on the subject of men and dating, are you going out with anyone yet?”

      “No. Not yet. I’m still settling into the neighborhood.”

      “Then maybe we ought to organize another block party,” Molly said. “That way we can be sure you get to meet everyone.”

      “I’d like that.” Rebecca took a sip of her water. “But just out of curiosity, what do you two know about Jack Lever?”

      Jack was an attorney who lived on Danbury Way. He was also a handsome, thirtysomething widower with blond hair and brown eyes.

      “He’s a nice guy,” Molly said. “But I think he’s still grieving for his wife.”

      Carly agreed. “Patricia Lever died in a car accident right after their second child, a boy, was born. I’m sure losing his wife and being left with two small children has been tough on him, especially since he’s with a busy firm. But he has a nanny to help.”

      “He’s had several,” Molly said. “I heard he can be pretty demanding.”

      “But if you’re interested,” Carly added, “why not take a chance?”

      If Rebecca had any thoughts about the suggestion, she kept them to herself. But Carly suspected the cogs and wheels were turning.

      “Speaking of giving guys a chance…” Molly’s gaze scored a direct hit on Carly. “Why don’t you pursue something with Bo? He’d make a nice transitional relationship.”

      “The whole dating thing is pretty overwhelming,” Carly admitted. But she wasn’t about to let on that she actually found Bo interesting—to say the least.

      Rebecca reached into the breadbasket and took a slice of pumpernickel. “Maybe, if you decide to have that block party, you should invite Bo, too. There aren’t that many good men out there, and he seems like a decent sort. He’s also nice looking if you’re into the rugged, outdoorsy type.”

      Before either of her friends could push the issue, Ed returned with a bottle of champagne, an ice bucket and three crystal flutes. After popping the cork, he poured a bit for Rebecca to taste.

      “It’s fine. Thank you.”

      Molly placed her hand over the top of her glass. “No, thanks. I’m having water this evening.”

      Ed complied, then returned to the kitchen, leaving the women alone.

      “You’re passing on champagne?” Rebecca asked.

      Carly was going to ask the same question. Not that she was in the mood to celebrate anything, but Molly’s lack of participation was odd.

      “I, uh…” Molly cleared her throat, and a sheepish expression crossed her pretty face. “I’m pregnant.”

      Rebecca nearly choked on her bite of bread. “Are you serious? I didn’t even know you were dating.”

      “I’m not.”

      Carly wasn’t sure what to say, other than ask who the father was. Would it be rude of her to do so?

      Of course, if Molly wasn’t dating… “You don’t have to answer this if you don’t want to,” she said. After all, she valued her own privacy and owed her friend the same respect. “But did you go to a sperm bank?”

      Molly’s cheeks flushed, but she apparently took Carly at her word and didn’t respond.

      So Carly let it drop and offered her neighbor her full support. “You’re braver than I am to go it alone. But congratulations, Molly. You’ll make a wonderful mother.”

      “A fabulous one,” Rebecca added. “How far along are you?”

      “About four months.”

      That was a long time to keep a secret like that, especially from friends. Carly leaned forward. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

      Molly fingered the stem of her empty glass, then blessed Carly with a sympathetic gaze. “I knew how badly you’d wanted a baby. And…” She shrugged.

      Carly had wanted a baby, but not until she realized her marriage was in trouble and she’d been desperate to do whatever she could to hold things together.

      In the early years Greg had been the one to bring up the subject of children. But Carly had put him off, telling him she wasn’t ready. The truth was she’d actually been afraid to get pregnant, afraid of the weight gain, the stretch marks. However, even more terrifying had been the fear of losing Greg to someone else if she became fat and frumpy. Losing him to someone who was more his class and style.

      Yet Greg had left her, anyway.

      Carly placed a hand on top of Molly’s. “It’s okay. Really. I wanted a baby, but for all the wrong reasons. I’d hoped a child would make things better between us.”

      But by that time, Greg was no longer interested in having a child. Or at least, he didn’t want to have a baby with Carly.

      She wouldn’t rain on Molly’s parade, though. So she gave her friend’s hand a warm squeeze before releasing it. “I’m happy for you.”

      And she was. Really. But it was a struggle to smile warmly when Molly’s joyful announcement reminded her how vast and sterile her house was, how empty her life.

      But Carly let the subject die a dignified death.

      For a woman who kept her fears and worries close to the vest, she’d opened up more with her friends during the past few months than she ever had, especially to Megan Schumacher.

      Megan had listened endlessly as Carly poured out her heart about her husband, her failing marriage. And at the time, Megan, who yearned for a family, had seemed sympathetic.

      Trustworthy.

      But Megan was dating Greg now.

      And since Carly had been burned by the woman she’d thought was a friend, she was leery about sharing too much with anyone else.

      “I think it’s great,” Rebecca told the expectant mother. “You didn’t flounder around waiting for the right man to propose marriage. Instead, you decided to have a child on your own.”

      “Well,” Molly admitted, “to be honest, I didn’t plan this pregnancy. But I have decided to make the best of being a single mom.”

      Okay. So Molly hadn’t found the father at the sperm bank.

      “Sometimes the best things in life aren’t planned,” Rebecca said. “Isn’t that right, Carly?”

      Carly nodded.

      But sometimes the worst things were unplanned, too.

      “Just think.” Rebecca smiled wistfully. “In five more months you’ll have a baby boy or girl to hold and love.”

      That, Carly supposed, would be nice for Molly.

      Too bad she and Greg hadn’t conceived a baby years ago—when he’d still