Practice Makes Perfect by Kathryn Shay

nodded. “Little did we know that unfulfilled love was anything but romantic.”
    Paige agreed.
    “Speaking of Serenity House, Paige, I was surprised to hear you’re going to work at the new care facility for young mothers.”
    Maybe because Darcy had shared the tidbit about her ex or maybe because Paige was feeling unaccountably lonely tonight and couldn’t help wondering what it would be like to spend the evening with a man like Ian Chandler, she said, “They needed help. I’m available. They’re opening in two days.”
    “Yes, I know. I’m hosting the reception.”
    “Really, why?”
    “I’ve just been appointed president of Hyde Point’s Small Business Association. It’s good PR for us.”
    “Congratulations.”
    Darcy sipped her lemonade. “As I said, I was surprised you agreed to work at the Center.”
    “Because of my background?”
    Darcy reached out and squeezed Paige’s hand. “It can’t be easy. You’ll deal with girls who’ll remind you of us when we were at Serenity House.” Then she added meaningfully, “Girls with babies.”
    Paige swallowed hard. “I deal with babies every day.”
    “You know what I mean.”
    Her throat suddenly felt parched. “With girls who made a different choice than I did?”
    “Yes.”
    Paige watched Meli coax Claire underwater again.
    Darcy asked, “Do you ever think about her?”
    “Her?”
    “Your baby.”
    “Her?” Paige’s head began to swim. Her eyes burned.
“Her?”
    “Paige,” Darcy said, staring at her, “are you all right? I know you don’t like talking about this, but—”
    Paige threw the chair back and stood. “No, Darce, I don’t. I don’t—” She had to move. Quickly she shed her cover-up, crossed blindly to the edge of the pool and dived in; the water was bracing.
    It didn’t help.
    It didn’t help take her mind off the startling revelation that, fifteen years ago, she had given birth to a daughter.
    A fact she had never known.
    o0o
    WHEN SHE ENTERED the Elsa Moore Center for the reception following the outdoor opening ceremonies, Paige was still on edge from Darcy’s revelation of two days ago. She hadn’t been sleeping well and felt the effects of her fatigue. Though she knew this wasn’t a big deal, she’d been ambushed by information she’d specifically asked never to be told. She tried not to think about the past, not to dwell on it, but she couldn’t control her thoughts.
    She’d had a baby girl.
    Ian approached her as soon as she stepped inside. He was dressed today in a suit of charcoal gray with a pristine white shirt and a red paisley tie. He looked like John Q. Businessman, even with the long hair. “Paige, I—” He stopped short. “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing” She fidgeted with a button on the short yellow jacket of the suit she wore. She’d dressed brightly today to cheer herself up.
    Studying her a moment longer, he took her arm and ushered her into a small room off to the side.
    “Ian, what are you doing?”
    “Something’s wrong.”
    “I just said there wasn’t anything wrong.”
    “Your bloodshot eyes say otherwise. Were you on call last night?”
    “No.”
    He frowned. “Is it something personal? Look, if it’s about a guy, I’m a good listener. I might be able to help.”
    She had to smile. The man thought he could take on the world, solve everybody’s problems. “I wouldn’t lose sleep over a guy, Ian.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Then you’ve been dating the wrong men, lady.” He sobered. “What
are
you losing sleep over?”
    “Someone surprised me with something. I don’t like surprises.”
    “I’ll remember that.”
    Carol Camp poked her head in. “Ian, there’s a reporter looking for you for a picture.” Her gaze landed on Paige. “You, too, Paige. They want all the staff in the front of the reception area.”
    Paige kept herself from sighing. She wanted to be part of a photo shoot about as much as she wanted to deal with an outbreak of chicken pox. But at least