Sandy Fidler approached Jane when the others had departed. Jane was gathering the notes  she'd made during the meeting; she looked up with a smile when her pregnant friend waddled closer.

   Susan looked around to make sure the others were gone, then burst into giggles. "Phantom of the Opera?"

   Jane grinned. "Don't get me started. It was all I could do not to laugh in poor Marlene's face."

   "She's probably going to audition for the youngest part in whatever play you select, you know. And she isn't going to like it when you cast her as an aging matron or someone's mother."

   "I'll worry about that when about that when I'm casting parts."

   "You're sure you want to get involved with this? A bunch of rank amateurs with dreams of local stardom?"

   Wrinkling her nose, Jane replied, "It just might be fun. And, besides, I need something productive to do."

   "Getting bored, are you?"

   "Maybe a little," Jane admitted, though she knew it wasn't boredom, exactly. More of a dissatisfaction—an awareness that something was still lacking in her life. Something that her one-night-a-week dates with Tyler weren't quite compensating for.

   "I find that hard to believe, considering how often the town's most eligible lawyer comes calling on you."

   Jane went still, wondering for a moment if her friend had just read her mind. "I beg your pardon?"

   Sandy's smile was mischievous. "Surely you haven't forgotten how efficient the Honoria rumor mill is."

   Jane groaned. "Don't tell me..."

   "Oh, yes. Folks have been talking about you and Tyler Hamilton. They're saying you've been out with him on several Friday evenings, including the most recent one. And that his car was spotted at your house in the middle of a weekday."

   "We had lunch. He brought takeout," Jane muttered.

   "Mmm. And what did you have for dessert?"

   "Conversation," Jane answered repressively. And their date Friday had ended when, after several long, arousing kissed, Tyler had rather abruptly departed, leaving her quivering with pent-up desire.

   She was beginning to wonder if she shouldn't just drag him into her bedroom and attack him, putting an end to the anticipation.

   "Well?" Sandy demanded.

   "Well, what?"

   "What's going on?"

   "Nothing much. Tyler and I are just friends." For now at least.

   "Two lonely singles sharing dinner and conversation?"

   Jane stuffed her notes into her oversized tote bag. "Something like that."

   "Want to know the local odds for and against the two of you getting married?"

   "No."

   Sandy laughed. "Let's just say it's evenly divided."

   Jane slung the strap of her tote over her shoulder. This, she thought, was exactly why she and Tyler had made a point of being discreet about their dates, choosing restaurants and movie theaters in different towns. Apparently, their efforts had been a waste of time.

   "Everyone is taking about us?" she asked.

   "Everyone." Sandy replied cheerfully.