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right. Angel and her mother were best friends, unlike Erin and hers. Barbara once compared Julia and Angel to Siamese twins. That might be another reason she didn't have close friends. Hanging out with your mom all the time scared off peers and lovers. Why wasn't Julia eager to help her only daughter select a wedding dress?
    "Please, Erin . Say 'yes'. We can meet at a shopping centre. I'll find out which ones have bridal boutiques and we'll shop and have lunch together."
    Angel was all bubbly again and Erin couldn't stand it. She'd lost Mitch and her chance to save face by attending her cousin's wedding with a fiancé, as well as all hope for married bliss of her own. She felt desolate and a day of looking at wedding dresses was more than she could take.
    "I'm sorry, Angel. I just can't. Between my fiancé and business, my every waking moment is filled. Plus, "she added, feeling a flash of excitement, "Joey is coming home for the summer and I want us to spend a lot of time together."
     
    * * *
     
    "Back to square one," Erin announced. Sitting down behind her desk, she slumped in her chair. "I need a man and a diamond ring."
    "I cannot believe you broke up with Mitch," Lea said. "Not that I think he was Mr. Right, but you were sure he was."
    "I'm in shock myself, but if he never wants to marry, I might as well forget him now rather than later. I don't want to spend the rest of my life dating. Besides, you were right. We're not suited. Mitch pointed that out himself and I see it now. Even the sex isn't as good as he had me thinking."
    "Now I'm not surprised you broke up," Lea said. "I accused you of being obsessed with sex or marriage and Mitch just struck out on both counts."
    "You could have asked him to Angel's wedding and gotten him to pretend," Margo said.
    "He isn't worth it." Now that she was over the sorrow, she found herself angry with Mitch.
    Hearing an engine nearby, Erin stood to look out the window. The Wives-R-Us office stood on the edge of her lawn and a sleek black car had pulled into the circular drive in front of her home. A boy jumped out of the passenger side and a man climbed out from behind the wheel.
    "It's Joey," she exclaimed, rushing towards the door. She never knew what Joseph would be driving and hadn't recognised the car. "His dad's brought him home from school. I didn't think they were coming until tomorrow."
    She ran outside to meet her son. Seeing her, he slowed his steps and she smiled. He didn't want to be caught acting too eager to see his mother. "Sweetheart." She leaned over to hug him. It seemed like such a short time since she'd had to kneel to put her arms around him. "You grow more every time I see you."
    "Hey, Mom." He gave her a quick squeeze and a big smile.
    He'd inherited his father's build. Thank heavens. She'd worried when he was born and only six pounds, eighteen inches long, that her son would be tiny like her. But he was tall for an eleven-year-old and quite handsome. His hair was dark like hers but he'd gotten his father's eye-colour—a bluish grey instead of Erin 's 'sparkling green' that Joseph hoped their child would inherit.
    "I'm glad you're home, Joey. I've missed you."
    He looked around and she noticed then that his dad had moved close by.
    "Hello, Erin ." Joseph stepped forward and took her hand. "He told me on the way here that he wants to be called 'Joe' now."
    "Yeah. Joey sounds kiddish, Mom. I hope you don't mind."
    She pulled her hand away from her ex to ruffle her son's hair, and he ducked his head. Did he worry about it getting messed up? Realising there was gel on her hand, she knew he did. "You're growing up too fast…Joe."
    "There's something else we talked about," Joseph said. "You want to tell her, Joe, or would you like me to?"
    "I will." His eyes shone. "Dad wants to take me on a Mediterranean cruise. How cool is that!"
    Erin 's heartbeat accelerated and her knees grew weak. "For how long?" She directed her question to his father.
    "A month," Joey