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suit. The perfect outfit made her seem standoffish, contradicting the almost overeager look in her eyes. If Alison didn’t know better, she’d have thought her mother really wanted to be a part of her life. “I need your help.”
    Janelle studied her silently for a moment, her ruby lips slowly moving into a smile. “Of course, honey. What can I do for you?”
    She should have asked that years ago, when Alison needed her to take her shopping for her first bra, explain the facts of life, show up at her swim meets… But she bit back the words. Hannah and Wiley and Grammy Rose had been there for all those things. And Alison couldn’t dwell in the past. Not with her mother or with Brady.
    She placed the envelope on the table, sipping coffee while her mother studied the papers. Finally her mother sent her a questioning look. “You were married?”
    Alison nodded. “Brady and I dated his last year in high school, then he went to college and we kept in touch.” She hesitated, not wanting to share too many details. “After his father died, we grew closer, then Brady joined the Air Force. The night before he was supposed to leave, we got married.”
    “Young and impulsive, huh?”
    Alison smiled. “Exactly. But Dad found out the next morning and insisted we have the marriage annulled.”
    Janelle nodded, crinkling her eyes in confusion. “But he never filed the papers?”
    “He asked Grammy to file them, but she forgot.” Alison twisted the napkin in her lap. “She sent them to me a couple of days ago.”
    “I see.”
    The waiter delivered their breakfast, an omelette for Alison, wheat toast and fresh fruit for her mother. Janelle took a bite of her sliced peaches before continuing. “So you want me to file them?”
    “Yes. As soon as possible.” Alison leaned closer. “And I’d like to keep this between us. I don’t want the town to know. I never even told Hannah or Mimi about the marriage.”
    Janelle arched a brow. “All right, but why the hurry?”
    Alison shrugged and pushed the omelette around on her plate, wishing she’d stuck with dry cereal. “It’s been almost four years. I’d hardly call that a hurry.”
    Her mother smiled, smearing butter on her toast. “I guess you have a point. But there may be a problem.”
    Alison’s stomach protested the eggs, so she sipped her orange juice instead. “What kind of problem?”
    “There are certain restrictions on the parameters for annulment. You were both legally of age. You aren’t cousins or related in any way.”
    Alison nodded.
    “There was no coercion involved – I’m assuming he didn’t force you into marriage?”
    “No, of course not.”
    “Neither one of you were already married at the time?”
    She shook her head.
    “One last thing – did you consummate the marriage?”
    Alison’s breath caught. Even as a grown woman, she found it way too weird having this conversation with her mother.
    Janelle waited, studying her with a knowing look.
    “Yes, we consummated the marriage.”
    Janelle nodded. “Well, then unless one of you can claim mental impairment, you don’t fit the parameters for an annulment.”
    “What?”
    “That’s the law, honey.”
    “Then … then what do we do?”
    “You’ll have to file for a divorce.”
    Divorce . That seemed like such an ugly word, so much more hurtful than annulment .
    “And how long will a divorce take?”
    “About thirty days.” Janelle poured more coffee, her voice low. “That is, if neither of you contests it.”
    * * *
    Brady had promised his mom he’d stop by the print shop and help out for a while, but he’d also promised Vivica he’d meet her at Alison’s to discuss wedding plans.
    And of course, he needed to find out about the ending of his own marriage.
    Dreading the thought of seeing Alison almost as much as the thought of not seeing her, he strolled down
    Main Street
    , noting changes in the town he hadn’t noticed the day before. In the aftermath of the big celebration, the