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oversize dalmatian hopped out of the front seat. A leash kept the excited canine from barreling toward her. Wade waved with his free hand. “Thought I was gonna be late.”
    â€œYou’re talking about wedding plans with us?”
    He shrugged. “I guess so. They wanted me to come with my calendars, the church’s and my own.” He leaned toward her, and she caught a quick whiff of musky cologne. “Though my personal calendar is pretty much the same as the church’s.”
    A wave of relief washed over Kristy that she wouldn’t be alone for the meeting. Not that Wade was with her. He just kind of evened the playing field of married people and single people. Not that there was a playing field to begin with. She had no reason to compare herself to Tim’s perfect homemaker of a wife or to Joel’s parents, Chuck and Mary, who’d been happily married for more than a quarter of a century. She swallowed back a sigh, hating the inferiority complex that always wrapped around her when she was near Tim and Leah.
    Kristy glanced down at Wade’s dog. The big guy shook his bottom from side to side and bobbed his nose in an attempt to get her attention. She offered her hand for the canine to sniff, then petted the top of his head. “What’s his name?”
    â€œKnew he was a boy, did you?”
    She smiled. “You just don’t look like a girl-dog kind of guy.”
    Wade laughed, and Kristy couldn’t help but giggle at the boisterous sound. “His name is Bo.” He scratched behind the dog’s ears. “Tim said he could come over and run around the backyard and keep the boys occupied while we talk.”
    Kristy nodded and straightened to her full height. “Guess we should go ahead and get in there.”
    â€œHave you knocked or rang the doorbell?”
    She scrunched her nose and shook her head.
    â€œI’ll do it, then.”
    He pushed the bell, and within a moment, Leah answered, looking perfect and flashing a bright white smile. Wade placed his hand in the small of Kristy’s back and guided her inside. Kristy held her breath at his touch. She’d lived independently and alone for so long, she couldn’t remember when someone had led her anywhere. Part of her kind of liked the feeling.
    â€œYou can head to the dining room, Kristy.” Leah pointed to her left. “I took the liberty of purchasing a few bridal magazines. Mel and Mary are already perusing them while the guys talk baseball.” She laughed, a light tinkling sound that grated on Kristy’s nerves.
    â€œThe boys are in the back,” she addressed Wade. “They can’t wait to meet your dog. What did you say his name was again?” Leah’s words drifted off as she and Wade walked to the back of the house.
    Once in the dining room, Kristy’s heart twisted at the vision of Mel and Mary scouring bridal magazines. Dark curly locks fell past Mel’s shoulders. With no makeup to cover them, freckles splattered her cheeks and nose. If Kristy had a couple of ponytail holders, she could put Mel’s hair in pigtails and her child would look just as she had in elementary school.
    The guys sat at the other end of the table, oblivious to Mel and Mary’s discussion. Her future son-in-law’s blond hair swept down in waves almost to his eyebrows and past his ears. He didn’t look much older than a middle-school boy in need of a haircut.
    Lord, they have no idea what they’re getting into. I wanted so much more for Mel.
    As if sensing her prayer, Mel glanced up and offered a tentative smile. She motioned Kristy to a place beside her. Trying to maintain a positive demeanor, Kristy sat down and looked at the long, straight dress she and Mary had found. “I’d like to find something like this.”
    â€œThat would look beautiful on your slim figure,” said Mary.
    â€œWon’t be slim for long,” Kristy muttered, then