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that’s just great.”
    “Everything will work itself out.”
    “I don’t see how. Not when Phillip makes less than a hundred thousand dollars.”
    “But it won’t always be that way. He’ll eventually make a lot more.”
    “When?”
    “I don’t know, but he will.”
    Alicia picked up a sleek-looking black jean blazer and matching jean pants by Ralph Lauren but quickly placed them back on the rack.
    “You like that?” Charlotte asked.
    “Yeah, but I promised myself I’d cut down my spending just to keep peace between Phillip and me, and I’m really trying to stick to that.”
    “Is it your size?”
    Alicia checked the labels and saw that both were a six. “Yep, but oh well.”
    “Give them to me,” Charlotte told her, and took them away from her. Then, she walked over to the checkout counter.
    “You really don’t have to do that.”
    “I know, but I want to. I know exactly how you feel, and it’s the least I can do for you.”
    Alicia hugged her stepmother, who, at only nine years her senior, was more like a friend. “Thanks for everything.”
    “You’re quite welcome.”
    When they headed back down the escalator, they hugged again, exited through separate doorways, and out to their respective parking areas. Alicia was so excited about the outfit Charlotte had purchased, but just in case Phillip still had a problem with her buying something new, even though she hadn’t paid for it herself, she decided it was best not to bring it into the house until later. Or tomorrow if that ended up being a better bet.
    She walked toward her car but stopped in her tracks when she saw Levi driving toward her in a shiny black, freshly washed Lexus LS 460. He drove behind her car and rolled down his window. “Don’t forget what I told you. If you ever need anything, you can find me at my mom’s restaurant.”
    Alicia opened her trunk, placed her new clothing inside it, and then closed it back down.
    “Hiding your own stuff from your own husband?”
    How in the world did he know? Did she look that obvious?
    “Shame, shame. A gorgeous-looking woman like you, hiding what she bought because her husband doesn’t think she deserves to wear quality clothing.”
    “That’s not it at all,” Alicia tried to explain, but she knew her words were unconvincing.
    “Then why’d you just put that Macy’s garment bag in your trunk and not inside your car?”
    “Does it matter one way or the other?”
    “No, but I’m just calling things as I see them. I’m an analytical kind of guy, and I pay attention to even the smallest of details.”
    “Apparently so. But you’re wrong about me.”
    “Is that right?”
    “Yes, it is.”
    “Hey, whatever you say. But seriously, though, I hope you’ll call me if you need me because I really am here for you. Your dad ended my relationship with the church, and I totally respect his reasoning behind it, but I still care about him, his family, and especially you. I know you’re married, and I guess I’m going to have to respect that as well, but I can’t help the way I feel about you. I’ve always been attracted to you, and I think you’ve always felt the same way about me.”
    “Levi, please. We’ve only seen each other maybe five or six times over the last four years. We barely even know each other.”
    “I know what I like, and it doesn’t take a hundred meetings for me to recognize that.”
    Alicia felt her stomach fluttering. “I have to go.”
    “That’s fine, but you just remember what I said, okay?”
    He watched her for a few lingering seconds and then drove away.
    Alicia sat inside her car and leaned her head against her headrest.
    She sat there, feeling more guilty than she had earlier, and then she prayed that Levi would never approach her again.
    She prayed and then drove home to her husband.

Chapter 5
    A licia slipped on a baking mitt, eased open the stainless steel oven door, and pulled out the dish of orange roughy she was preparing for dinner. She set it