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managed to block Darlene’s imminent departure from his mind, she showed up with the astonishing news that she’d found the ideal person to be her replacement, someone with seven years of legal secretary experience, plus paralegal training.
    “In Port William?” Taylor said, regarding her skeptically.
    “Yeah. Isn’t that great? She just moved here. Perfect timing, huh? It’s like an omen or something.”
    Omen was not the word that popped into Taylor’s mind. A slow, steady pounding throbbed in his head as he guessed exactly who Darlene had discovered. Unless someone had had visitors he’d heard nothing about, only one person had returned to Port William in recent weeks. He’d been clinging desperately to the idea that her return was not permanent enough to require employment. Apparently the gods were dead set on making his life hell.
    “Darlene, tell me you are not talking about Zelda Lane.”
    If she heard the panicked note in his voice, she didn’t let on. “Why, of course, I am,” she said blithely. “I’d forgotten you know her because of the will and all. She’ll be terrific, don’t you think?”
    The only thing terrific Taylor could think of was the fact that Darlene was too young to recall his prior relationship with Zelda. At least she’d created this awkward situation innocently. Perhaps it wasn’t too late to steer her toward looking for some other candidate for the job.
    “You haven’t said anything to her, have you?” he inquired, though admittedly without much hope. Darlene was not known for her reticence.
    “You mean about the job? Sure. I told her all about it, about what a great boss you are.”
    “Did you happen to mention my name?”
    Darlene regarded him blankly. “I didn’t need to. You’re the only lawyer in town. Everyone knows that.”
    “But she might not, especially if she just moved here.” It was his only hope, that Zelda would back out of the interview the minute she found out who she’d be working for. The prospect of having her here, in this office, not more than two dozen steps from his bedroom, made his pulse kick.
    “Oh, she knows,” Darlene announced blithely. “In fact, she’s sitting out front right now, waiting for the interview I scheduled.” She studied him worriedly. “Boss, you look kinda funny. Did I do something wrong? I mean, I could tell her you’re busy or something.”
    Wrong, he thought, trying not to panic at the understatement. Bringing Zelda into this office wasn’t wrong. It was flat-out guaranteed emotional suicide.
    * * *
    Zelda wasn’t sure what had possessed her to agree to an interview with Taylor. Not that Darlene hadn’t been persuasive. That girl could sell pinecones to someone living in the forest. She’d swooped down on Zelda with so much enthusiasm that Zelda had almost forgotten exactly who it was Darlene wanted her to work for. To her astonishment, she’d found herself nodding and agreeing to show up this morning, even though she hadn’t even decided whether or not to stay in Port William. She’d even used Harlan’s brand new machine to fax Kate for a letter of recommendation. She’d told herself she was just going through the motions, that it was a way to get under Taylor’s skin. She couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of a little discomfort.
    Now here she was in Taylor’s reception area, wearing one of her best business suits in a turquoise fabric that matched her eyes, and wondering if she’d gone and lost her mind. What had gotten into her?
    Perhaps it was that same quirky streak that always encouraged her to do the unexpected. Perhaps it was a desire to see the look on Taylor’s face when she walked into his office. Perhaps, if she was prepared to admit the truth, it was a deep-seated desire to show him and everyone else in this town that she was an intelligent, responsible woman and not the flake they all remembered.
    Not that she needed to prove anything to anyone at this late date, she told