“Then we’ll get to be good friends. I run a wedding planning business and Ellie and I work together all the time.”
Caitlyn made the connection. Ellie had mentioned Mia before, but without a face to put to the name it had slipped her mind. “I guess we will. How old is Pamela?”
“Eighteen months. What about your daughter?”
“Lottie is seven months.”
“She’s adorable.” When Pamela began to bang on the slide with her open palm, Mia crossed to her and helped her up to the top. She came around to stand at the bottom as Pamela slid down, and caught her up in her arms. “You’re on your own, right?”
Once again the speed of gossip in this town surprised Caitlyn when it really shouldn’t have. “That’s right.”
“I was too, you know. I picked a real winner when I decided to date Pamela’s father. He was married, for one thing, and not interested in getting divorced. I was so embarrassed when I found out I was pregnant.”
Surprised at this confession, Caitlyn put Lottie down again, but kept a close eye on the little girl to make sure she didn’t try another go at the sand. “But you married one of the Mathesons?”
“Luke. He’s such a good father to Pam.”
Caitlyn tried to do the calculations in her head without being obvious, but she couldn’t help being curious. “Had you dated him before? Or…”
“We got together while I was pregnant.” Mia laughed. “I know; I was as shocked as you look.”
“I’m not shocked.” But she was. She didn’t think a man could find a woman attractive if she was pregnant with another man’s child. She’d always thought of Lottie as a barrier to finding another boyfriend. Maybe she was wrong. “Luke doesn’t hold it against you?”
“That I had Pam? No. We had some issues about me keeping secrets, though. I was afraid he wouldn’t like me anymore if he knew what I’d done, so I hid my pregnancy from everyone for as long as I could. Once I spilled the secret and he got used to the idea he jumped right in to be Pam’s daddy. And my husband.” The smile on her face told Caitlyn theirs was a happy marriage.
A jolt of jealousy shot through her. Mia was so beautiful—what man wouldn’t want her? Caitlyn was afraid a plain Jane like her wouldn’t have the same luck.
“Do you have many friends in Chance Creek?” Mia asked.
Caitlyn shook her head. “Most of them moved away.” Or had dropped her when their lives diverged.
“There are so many new mothers around. We have a playgroup every other Saturday morning right here. You and Lottie should join us.”
“I’d like that.” Caitlyn perked up. If she couldn’t date, at least she could make new friends who shared her interests.
“We won’t have one this weekend because of the Harvest Festival, but next weekend we’ll meet up again. Unless it rains or snows; then we meet at someone’s house. Give me your phone number and I’ll add you to the list.” Mia held out her phone and Caitlyn put her information into Mia’s contacts. She passed her phone to Mia who did the same. “Are you going to the dance Saturday night?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.” She indicated Lottie with a shrug.
Mia frowned. “You don’t have to have a boyfriend. All of my friends are going as a group. You have to come with us. By the end of the night I’ll bet at least five men will have asked for your number.”
“I doubt that.”
“Why? Because of Lottie?” Mia’s expression told her the woman thought she was crazy.
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be a fifth wheel. You’ll be with your husband. I bet all your friends will be with theirs, too.”
“You won’t be a fifth wheel. I won’t take no for an answer, Caitlyn. You have to come! You can’t let the bastards win, you know that, right? If some guy left you high and dry you need to put on your boots and get out on the dance floor again!”
“Is it that obvious?” Caitlyn sighed to think that everyone thought she’d been dumped. Lottie’s father had come and gone too quickly to do any dumping.
“It’s obvious you think you have to pay some kind of penance for being a single mom.” Mia handed back her phone. “It’s not like that at all. There’s a man out there for you if you want him. All you have to do is show up.”
Caitlyn wavered. She’d love the chance to wear her new dress, and going out with a group sounded great. “I’ll need to find a sitter for Lottie.”
“Would Ellie help?”
“In a heartbeat. She loves spending time with Lottie,” Caitlyn admitted. She began to get excited. “Thank you!”
“It’s nothing. Now what are you going to wear?”
Chapter Five
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