Chapter 1
“Hurry up or we’ll be late.”
Carolina Johnson took one last glimpse at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and turned her face side-to-side, checking for any signs of misplaced makeup. She’d chosen the stylish cream-colored blouse with the billowy sleeves and paired it with her dark jeans, hoping to hide her stomach.
She cast a longing look at her ballet flats but knew the other ladies would be wearing heels at the party.
She sighed and slipped her feet into the nude-colored high heels before hurrying into the kitchen where her husband, Chris, was waiting.
“How do I look?”
“You look fine. We need to get these over to the Barker’s before everyone else arrives.” He shoved the platter of hors d’oeuvres she’d made that afternoon into her arms.
She frowned. “You’re wearing swim trunks and a T-shirt.”
He shrugged, slightly irritated. “Yeah. It’s a pool party.”
“Do I need to get my swimsuit?” Just the thought made her stomach turn.
“No, no. I’m sure it’s just the men getting in the pool. Don’t worry about it.” He grabbed his cooler of iced beer and headed out to the garage.
Carolina stuck the hostess gift under her arm and managed to gingerly walk down the steps to the garage while balancing the food tray in her hands.
The garage door was up and Chris was sitting in the driver’s seat tapping his fingers on the steering wheel impatiently. She ignored his impatient look and managed to open the door with her free hand and get in without spilling the hors d’oeuvres or dropping the gift.
She was already tired and hadn’t even left the house.
Parties used to be fun and relaxing, but they had quickly morphed into opportunities for everyone to show off a new outfit or piece of jewelry.
The ride over to the Barker’s was quick and quiet and she was grateful. Lately Chris had been in a foul mood and everything she said seemed to upset him.
When they arrived at their destination her husband pulled into the driveway and killed the engine. One of the other husbands waved. Chris quickly got out of the car and headed over to speak to the guy without offering to help her with the appetizers. A few seconds into the conversation, they were drinking beer and Carolina was quickly forgotten.
“Perfect.” She muttered and finagled her way out of the car, a feat in and of itself, given the platter she still held in her hands. Teetering on high heels, she made her way up the steps. She peered through the glass of the front door but didn’t see anyone. Leaning against the door for balance, she managed to press her thumb against the doorbell.
A rich tune emanated from the other side. A few seconds passed before the door opened.
“Carolina! Hello. So glad you could make it.” Lydia Barker smiled and waved her inside.
“Thanks for the invitation, Lydia. It’s been a while since we’ve gotten together.” Carolina followed her into the kitchen and set the tray down on the counter. She handed her the hostess gift tucked in the crook of her arm. “This is for you.”
“Oh, how lovely. Thank you.” Lydia peered inside the bag and pulled out an expensive candle. “My favorite scent. How very thoughtful of you.”
“You’re welcome.” Carolina relaxed a little. She’d taken a long time in the boutique trying to decide on a scent. She usually liked basic scents like vanilla and peach. After twenty minutes of indecision, she finally went with the salesperson’s suggestion and picked the most popular one.
Carolina glanced around and spotted a few familiar faces around the room. No matter how many times she met someone, she was always afraid they wouldn’t remember her. Like she wasn’t memorable, quite unlike her husband, Chris, who easily made friends where ever he went.
“Carolina, you remember Jackie, don’t you?” Lydia smiled at the tall, buxom, brunette with the perfect figure. Her body was wrapped in a stunning red dress, a garment so tight, it looked like it had been melted onto her shapely figure.
“Of course. How are you, Jackie? You are looking great.” Carolina smiled brightly, as she wrapped a self-conscious hand around her not-slim-enough waist.
“Thank you. I just got back from a trip to the beach. Let me tell you a tan always makes you look slimmer.” She ran her hand down her waist. “What kind of vacations have you been on?”
Carolina laughed. “None, I’m afraid. Chris has been much too busy at work to book any vacations this year.”
Jackie arched her brow. Her lips pressed together in a thin line that caused Carolina’s stomach to tilt a little.
“I’m sure we’ll do something soon though,” she added quickly, not wanting Jackie to think she was weird for not taking a vacation. It was almost October and all their friends and families had taken at least two vacations this year. That didn’t even include all the holiday trips they usually planned.
