Forever After Read Free

makeup was flawlessly applied and she looked younger than her thirty-two years.  Darcy marveled at how different she and Marsha were, but cherished the closeness they'd developed in the last three years.
    When Darcy's father died and his estate settled, Darcy had invested her share in the Cape Cod next door.  She and Marsha had become fast friends.  And Jenna...  Darcy had fallen in love with her at first sight.  Her huge brown eyes, her full-cheeked face framed by heavy straight chestnut hair that swung around her chin.  She'd stolen Darcy's heart and Darcy wondered if she could feel any more had her own child been born.
    Darcy asked, "Can I help with anything?"
    Marsha waved her inside.  "Sure.  There's lots more to carry out.  Chuck bought macaroni salad, pickled eggs and potato chips so we could all swim and I didn't have to spend time in the kitchen."  As she led Darcy into the back door of the compact rancher, she said in a low voice, "He's so thoughtful, he scares me."
    Darcy opened Marsha's refrigerator and took out two liters of soda.  "Why are you scared?  You deserve to be loved."
    Marsha's amber eyes were deadly serious.  "Do I?  What if I mess it up again?  What if I'm not enough to keep him here instead of at card games?  What if..."
    Darcy had picked up the package of paper cups.  She thumped them back down on the counter as she confronted her friend.  "Stop it.  Chuck and Brad are two different people.  Don't compare them; don't compare your relationships."
    Marsha's eyes became unnaturally bright.  "I have to.  I can't make a mistake again.  I have to think about Jenna.  I thought love was enough the first time and it wasn't."
    Darcy's tone gentled.  "You're older now and definitely wiser.  Trust your judgment.  Trust Jenna's.  I think she's closer to Chuck than she ever was to Brad."
    Marsha nodded.  "She adores him.  Brad hardly paid attention to her while we were married.  Since the divorce, he's been a Santa Claus.  Chuck spends time with her instead of buying her presents.  He listens to her.  I can't understand why Brad wants custody."
    "I met his lawyer."
    Marsha set out the containers from the deli.  "Seth Hallaran?  How?  Where?  Do you realize the kinds of cases he's won?  That write-up in the newspaper gave a list.  What am I going to do with that kind of power behind Brad?  My lawyer's good, but, Darcy, I'm scared."
    Marsha didn't want her questions answered, she wanted reassurance.  "No one could be a better mother than you are. Stop worrying.  Brad doesn't have a leg to stand on.  That's what I told Mr. Hallaran."
    "You talked to him about Jenna?"
    "Not exactly.  But I did get the impression he doesn't know Brad yet."  She'd also gotten the impression this move to Hershey hadn't been easy for him.  There'd been tension around his eyes and mouth.  Of course, that could have been from the situation that had brought him to her.  But she didn't think so.
    Darcy was amazed how easy it was to conjure up his face, his body, the heat that had flashed through her when she'd looked into his eyes or he'd moved close.  She took one of the paper cups from the stack and opened a liter of soda.  Her mouth was suddenly dry.
    Popping off the lid on the tub of macaroni salad, Marsha said, "Lawyers don't care if they know their clients.  They want to win.  Period.  Seth Hallaran's track record shows he's good at it."
    Darcy pushed the disturbing lawyer out of her mind to concentrate on her friend.  "You have to stop worrying or it will affect Jenna.  If Brad comes to his senses, he won't sue for custody.  Can't you talk to him?"
    "We lost the ability to talk a long time ago."
    "For Jenna's sake, you have to try."
    "I know you're right.  When he picks her up next weekend, I will."
    Marsha opened the silverware drawer and collected a variety of spoons, forks, and knives.  "I couldn't have gotten through the divorce and all of this without you."
    Darcy tipped