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strawberry wine. It’d been on a Friday night. Jocelyn was sleeping over. Both of them figured they’d try drinking, then spend all day Saturday rehashing their experience. Gertie’d had other plans. At five in the morning Gertie slipped inside her room, woke them up, and demanded they go downstairs and wait in the back of her truck. Thinking this was some kind of terrible joke, Kate refused. Gertie left the room, only to return a few minutes later with three empty bottles of Boone’s Farm. Kate knew then that she and Jocelyn were caught. With Gertie at the wheel and both her and Jocelyn in the cab of the truck, Gertie drove down the bumpy driveway, careful to hit each pothole in the road. She’d driven them to the local soup kitchen. They’d spent the day with massive hangovers serving breakfast and lunch to a few down-on-their-luck drunks. She’d never looked at wine the same since.
    Yes , Kate thought, Gertie might be just what Sara needs. Some good old-fashioned discipline, and Sara will be right back on track. Kate couldn’t wait to see the change in Sara when Don and Debbie returned from their cruise. They would thank her and Alex, praising the miracle.
    â€œIf she’s anything with kids like she is with the animals, then Sara will straighten out in no time,” Alex observed.
    â€œThen let’s just hope Emily’s concerns don’t manifest.”
    Kate took a pair of soft, worn Levi’s and gave them to Alex. He’d had them since his college days. Alex was still as trim and handsome as the photos in his high school yearbook. Actually, Kate thought him even more handsome. He’d certainly been something to look at in high school. Both he and Don had their pick of the girls, according to Don, but it was Alex they’d always gravitated toward. Kate could see why, but she knew it was more than his good looks. Alex was the kindest, most gentle man she’d ever known. There was an air of goodness about him. Kate knew she was biased, but anyone who’d ever met Alex would agree. He was top-of-the-line.
    â€œSo what’s got into your head all of a sudden? You look way too serious,” Alex said as he pulled on his jeans.
    Kate laughed. “Actually, I was thinking how lucky I am.”
    â€œAnd what brought this on?”
    â€œI don’t know. Just thinking about my life. Being married to you. It’s the best.” Again, Kate flashed a big grin. Alex took her in his arms.
    â€œI’m the lucky one. You’re a dream come true, Kate. The day I purchased the kennel changed my life. I have you, a terrific career, animals I love. What more could I ask for?”
    Kate knew, but didn’t want to voice her thoughts. Alex stepped out of their embrace and gazed into her green eyes. “I know what you’re thinking, and it doesn’t matter. I’ve told you that a hundred times. What will it take to convince you?”
    â€œI know, I just can’t help thinking a child would be the icing on the cake. Our lives would be, oh, I don’t know, more fulfilled,” Kate explained.
    Kate had spent the first six years of their marriage trying to become pregnant. When that failed, she tried in vitro fertilization for another three years, and still no child. She’d finally made peace with the fact that she would never have children with Alex, or anyone else for that matter. Alex had gone through a series of tests himself, but he was fine. It was her. For some reason, she wasn’t meant to have children. She’d accepted it, but she didn’t like it.
    Alex took another step back. “Do you really think a child would make us . . . complete? You know better. As long as we have each other, that’s all we’ll ever need. We both agreed this was acceptable.”
    â€œI know, it’s just when the girls visit, I realize what I’m missing. I’ve accepted the fact, Alex, but I’ll never like it, no