Leanne Banks - Flirting with Fortune

All Stacey had to do was lean toward her mother, and Piper extended her chubby little arms to her Gabby. Stacey checked the chicken and vegetables. “Looking good,” she murmured.

“You don’t have to cook every night,” her mother said as she clucked over Piper.

“I’m not contributing to the household with green stuff, so I want to contribute in other ways,” Stacey said.

“I don’t want you overdoing it,” her mother said.

“I’m not. I’m young and healthy,” she said.

“That sounds like something I said when I was younger,” her mother said. “You still didn’t answer my question about your conversation with Rachel.”

Stacey sighed. “Ella Mae’s baby shower is tonight.”

A brief silence followed.

“Oh,” her mother said, because she knew that the Jergens were wealthy and anything they did had to be, oh, so perfect. “Do you want me to go with you?”

Her mother’s offer was so sweet that it brought tears to her eyes. Stacey put down her spoon and went to her mother to hug her. “You’re the best mother in the world. You know that, don’t you?”

Jeanne gave Stacey a big squeeze, then pulled back with a soft chuckle. “What makes you say that?”

“Because you always do the right thing. I wonder if I can do half as many right things as you have,” Stacey said, looking into her mother’s eyes and wishing that just by looking, she could receive all of her mother’s wisdom.

Her mother slid her hand around Stacey’s shoulders and gave her another squeeze. “You’re already doing the right thing. Look at this gorgeous, healthy baby. You’re a wonderful mother.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Stacey said, feeling as if she’d just received the highest praise possible.

“You don’t have to go to Ella Mae’s baby shower. Just drop off a gift,” her mother said.

“No,” Stacey said with a firm shake of her head. “She came to my shower. I should go to hers.”

Jeanne pressed her lips together. “If you’re sure...”

“I am,” Stacey said. “And you already said you don’t mind watching Piper. Right?”

“Not at all,” her mother said. “You don’t ask me often enough. I love my little Piper girl.”

Stacey’s heart swelled with emotion. “I’m so blessed,” she said.

“Yes, you are,” her mother said. “Now go get ready for Ella Mae’s shower. You hold your head high. Don’t forget it. You’ve done the right thing, and you’re a good mother. Just make sure you’re the second one out the door.”

Stacey looked at her mother in confusion. “Second one out the door?”

“I never told you this before, but if you ever go to a party that you don’t want to attend, then you can be the second one to leave. You don’t want to be the first, but being the second is fine,” her mother said.

Another word of wisdom Stacey swore to remember. “I’ll be watching for who leaves first.”

“And if anyone starts making insinuating comments about Joe, then pull out Piper’s baby pictures. That should shut them up right away.”

Stacey smiled at her mother. “Thanks, Mom.”

Stacey raced to her room to pull on a black dress and boots. She put on some lip gloss and concealer, then threw on a colorful scarf and her peacoat.

“See you later, Mom,” she called, then headed for her Toyota. Thank goodness snow and sleet had stayed away from Horseback Hollow during the past week. She started her car and got to the end of the driveway before she realized she had forgotten the gift for Ella Mae’s baby.

Stacey backtracked and collected the gift, then returned to her trusty car. She headed out of Horseback Hollow toward the next town, then took several turns down several back roads until she reached the gated driveway for Ella Mae’s house. The gate lifted to allow her entrance, and Stacey rode down the paved drive to the front of the Jergen mansion. The windows of the house were lit, and the front door was open. Stacey knew what she would find inside. A crystal chandelier and exquisite high-profile designer furniture and decor.

Stacey was accustomed to homemade decorations and freshly painted rooms. Mama Jeanne decorated her home with family photos and mementos. The Joneses’ home was warm and welcoming, but furniture had been chosen for durability, not how pretty it was.

A man approached Stacey as she paused in the driveway. “May I park your car, ma’am?”

Stacey blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m the valet for the evening,” he said.

Stacey blinked again. Heaven help her. Valet? Don’t fight it, she told herself. Let him park the car. She would have to park her own all the nights thereafter, and that was okay.

Stacey accepted a nonalcoholic basil-something cocktail. She would have preferred a beer. She joined in with the socializing and the games and predicted that Ella Mae would have a boy. Stacey suspected that Ella Mae’s husband would want a boy right off the bat, so she hoped Ella would be able to seal the deal with a male child.

When it came time for the big reveal of the baby’s sex, it was done via cake. Blue. Stacey had been correct. Everyone cheered.

Ella Mae circled the room with her posse and stopped to visit with Stacey.

“I’m so glad you could come,” Ella Mae said. “I know you’ve been busy with your baby.”

“So true,” Stacey said. “You’ll learn soon enough.”

“Well, I’ll have help,” Ella Mae said. “I’ll have a husband and a nanny.”

Stacey lost her breath. She felt as if she’d been slapped. She took a careful breath and remembered what her mother had said. She pulled out her cell phone. “Have you seen my Piper? She’s just gorgeous, don’t you think?” she asked as she flipped through the photos.

“What a darling,” one of Ella Mae’s friends said. “She’s beautiful.”

Stacey nodded. “And good as gold.”

A couple moments later Ella Mae and her pack moved on. Stacey watched the door and saw two guests leave. It was time for her to go. On the drive home she decided to stop at the Superette to pick up some bananas for Piper. Piper loved bananas. Luckily, the Superette had quite a few. Then she headed to the only bar in town, the Two Moon Saloon, with the intention of drinking half a beer. She would be fine driving after drinking a whole beer, but Stacey wouldn’t risk anything. Since she’d become a mother, everything had changed. She couldn’t take any chances.

She went to the bar and ordered a beer. The first time in nearly a year and a half. She took a sip and felt so guilty she asked for a glass of water. Sensing the gazes of several men on her, she sipped at her water and wondered if coming here had been a good idea after all.

The bartender put another beer in front of her. “The guy at the end of the bar bought this for you.”

Stacey glanced down the bar but didn’t recognize the man. “Oh, I can’t accept it. I don’t know him.”

“I can’t take it back,” the bartender said.

Feeling extremely uncomfortable, Stacey took another sip of water and eyed the door.

“Fancy meeting you here,” a familiar male voice said.

“Oh, thank goodness,” she said, and stretched both of her hands toward Colton.

“Problem?” he asked, glancing down at her hands clutching his arm.

“I just went to Ella Mae Jergen’s baby shower. She made a snarky comment about my missing baby daddy. I came here for a beer, but I couldn’t make myself drink it. And some guy bought me another beer. Save me,” she said.

Colton chuckled and gently extracted her fingers from his arm. “Hey, Phil, buy Stacey’s admirer a beer on me.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I was just going to drink half a beer, but I felt guilty after the first sip. Do you know how long it’s been since I had a drink at a bar?”