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grinned at Chris, who pulled me into a quick hug.
    "I love these things. And I love you two, so missing it wasn't an option." She patted my abdomen.
    "You still clean up good," I noted as I pretended to assess her outfit. Black trousers, light blue denim shirt, and classy black shoes. Tall, dark, and handsome. Chris's dark mop of hair fell past her ears and a lock or two always hung over her forehead, giving her sort of a playful, boyish air. "Damn, you could be a model for GQ ," I teased.
    Chris rolled her eyes. "Please. I had to find something to wear to compete with you."
    I glanced down at my faded jeans and cowboy boots. "Oh, for sure. Kenneth Cole versus cowpie. I see why my fashion sense would concern you."
    "Nobody looks as good as you in boots and jeans, girl. Not even me. And that's saying a lot, hot as I am." She laughed.
    "It's the shirt," Sage announced. She gave Chris a hug before turning back to me. "Or maybe it's just you." She quirked an eyebrow at me and I felt a little blush work its way up my neck.
    "Thanks for coming," Sage said to Chris. "Have you had anything to eat?"
    "Wouldn't miss it. And no, I haven't."
    "Food's along the back wall," I said, gesturing.
    A woman with lots of blond hair and a tight black dress put her hand on Sage's forearm. "Honey, could you come here? I want you to meet somebody," she said in a loud Texas accent.
    "Absolutely," Sage responded politely. She blew an air-kiss at me as she moved off into the crowd.
    Chris grinned and looked around the gallery. "Damn, lots of people here. That's some good news for Sage."
    "Very good news. Where's Dayna?" I looked past Chris toward the front entrance.
    "Schmoozing." Humor danced in Chris's dark eyes. "Oh, I mean networking . You know how lawyers are." Chris beckoned with her chin and I followed the gesture. Dayna was talking to a couple of women who appeared to be in their fifties.
    I smiled again. Dayna was good at that sort of thing. She was wearing one of her artsy-professional outfits--she pulled that shit off really well. Cowboy boots beneath a flowing black skirt and a casual rose-colored shirt. She had her long light brown curly hair pulled back from her face and a pair of blue Euro-frame glasses on. I knew their color matched her eyes. I glanced at Chris, who was watching Dayna with an expression I thought I'd never see in her eyes. I smiled again, grateful to whatever forces brought Dayna into Chris's life.
    Hey," Chris said absently, still looking at Dayna. "I gave the wine to some woman with blond spiky hair--Maureen." She turned her gaze back to me.
    "We'd better go get some, then," I said, turning toward the back wall. "That stuff's good and it'll go fast."
    "Not to worry. There are two more bottles in the car for you and yours. I wouldn't think of depriving you." She grinned.
    "You are the best. You want anything?"
    "If they've got a Diet Coke over there, that'd be great."
    "Sure. What about Dayna?"
    "She's got a glass of something. Hey, I'm going to check out Sage's stuff. I don't get to see much of it on display like this." Chris flashed me a smile.
    "By all means. Catch you in a minute." Secretly, Chris was an art fiend. And a talented artist in her own right, though she never talked about it. She preferred to work in pen-and-ink, but she enjoyed looking at all media. I'd nag her now and again to let Sage hook her up with some of her art friends to get Chris a gallery showing in Albuquerque, but she always refused, telling me the same thing every time: "It's just a hobby, esa . I prefer to keep it that way."
    I made my way through the knots of people toward the back wall. Dan stood behind one of the tables pouring glasses of wine. The plate of brie looked like a pack of wild dogs had fought over it. I cut a small piece from what was left and ate it before I picked up a strawberry and bit into that. Yummy. Three other people grazed across the veggies, talking about somebody who just had a baby. A big plastic tub stood in a