"I'm so pleased things are going well!" the older woman said, sounding genuine. Liza smiled at her, grateful for her warmth. "Everyone else is here, so come on inside."

Liza felt somewhat better knowing she was flanked on either side by Faith and Kelly as she stepped into the room filled with judgmental eyes.

At least that's how she felt, as the women and their perfectly coiffed hair peered at them as they made their way in.

Caroline performed the introductions among the group. There were about a half dozen women sitting down, some on a floral sofa, others on a love seat, and still another in a Queen Anne armchair. Faith had done a beautiful job in this room; it complemented, Liza noticed, the marble entryway. It was obvious Caroline liked her colors-bold yellows and royal blues-and yet somehow Faith had pulled things together.

Someone cleared her throat, and Liza forced her attention from the decor to the women. From the corner of her eye, she realized Faith's mother, Lanie Harrington, was also present and Faith had stepped over to give her mother a hug.

"I didn't realize her mother was a member of the Beautification Committee," Liza said quietly to Kelly.

The other woman nodded. "Since she's been venturing out more and more in the last year, Faith and Caroline finally convinced her to join the committee." Kelly lowered her voice before continuing, "Lanie Harrington is still a raving bitch, but since Faith is trying to keep things civil, we all do the same. Still, if she gives you a hard time, you don't have to take it."

Liza grinned, remembering Lanie and her haughty attitude all too well. In fact, Lanie and Liza's own mother had much in common. They'd been in the same social circles when Liza was a child and until they'd moved down south.

"So, why don't we start with an update from the chairwoman on the fund-raiser," Caroline suggested loudly, essentially calling the meeting to order.

Faith stepped toward the center of the room. Though she wore a simple skirt and short-sleeved blouse, she commanded attention just by virtue of her presence. Not all the women in the room seemed pleased to see her there-a few were murmuring behind their hands. Liza wondered if it was Faith's father's Ponzi scheme and the fact that he was in jail that bothered them or her marriage to the town bad boy that did her in. Whatever it was, Faith was undeterred.

"We haven't kicked into high gear yet, since the fund-raiser is still a month away, but the invitations have been ordered and the vendors chosen. The next step is for us to meet with each, settle the music choices, and decide on the food."

"I think Marjorie did a wonderful job last year," a woman said from her seat on the sofa. She held a fine china teacup in one hand and her lips were so tightly pursed that Liza wondered how she was able to drink.

"Well, of course you think that, Lucille. Marjorie's your daughter!" This from Lanie Harrington. "I'm sure Faith can bring new blood and ideas to this year's gala."

Liza raised an eyebrow, surprised Faith's mother would speak out. Given all Liza had heard about how Mrs. Harrington had taken to her house and hidden after her husband's arrest, she'd have thought Faith's mother wouldn't want to call attention to herself.

"Listen to you, giving advice at your first meeting," Marjorie said to Lanie.

"Are you sure you're not going to be biased because Faith is your daughter?" Lucille asked.

"Ladies, this kind of bickering gets us nowhere. Faith, do go on," Caroline said.

Faith waved a calm hand. "My committee and I expect to offer a whole new way of doing things, especially since the affair itself will be at my home instead of in a banquet hall this year." She smiled as she confirmed the news.

Whispers and murmurs immediately sprung up among the women. "I didn't know about that!" one woman exclaimed.

Caroline waved her hand, dismissing the concern. "I asked Faith if she and her husband would host the gala, since their home is the best-known town landmark. Ethan and Faith graciously agreed."

"I wouldn't say Ethan was gracious," Kelly whispered with a snicker in her tone.

It was all Liza could do not to laugh out loud, and Faith, having heard too, merely grinned.

"Lanie, how do you feel about that? Seeing as how it used to be your home for many years?" a sour-looking woman asked, with a hint of glee in her tone.

Faith stiffened.

All eyes turned to her mother, whose cheeks turned red.

Knowing what it was like to take the brunt of pain and anger for someone else's actions, Liza actually felt sorry for her.

Lanie drew her shoulders back and faced the room. "If the house had to change hands, I'm glad it's with my daughter now," she said, holding her head high.

Beside her, Liza would swear she felt Faith's relief and pride echo through her.

"And you know Ethan signed the house over to his wife, so really it's back in the family after all," Lanie added.

"Mother!" Faith snapped, the tension back in her shoulders.

"I think it's time to move on to another aspect of committee business," Caroline said smoothly before things could degenerate further.

Good idea, Liza thought.

"Let's discuss where the proceeds of this event will go," Caroline continued. "Faith and the members of her committee have a proposal they would like to present. One I feel has merit." Caroline waved at Faith, indicating she should speak.

But the same woman whose daughter ran the event last year rose to her feet. "Well, we clearly have no choice, as the beautiful center of town has been ruined!" She glared at Liza this time.

As if she'd had any control over her car? And as if she didn't feel guilty enough for the results?

"First, accidents happen. Second, we do have a choice," Faith said. "The committee has been given an anonymous donation that has covered the cost of restoring the center of town."

Spontaneous applause erupted at Faith's announcement, but Liza cringed, still feeling guilty over what had to be Ethan's donation at Faith's request.

"So we suggest the money raised by this year's gala go to the youth center downtown."

"Pardon me? You want to waste our money on a glorified babysitting center for unruly kids who can't find a productive way to spend their free time?"

Liza didn't know the name of the woman speaking, which was a good thing. She didn't want to know anyone that closed-minded. "I would think the point of a fund-raiser's money is to help a cause in need." Liza spoke up for the first time.

"I agree," Faith said.

"Well, of course you do."

Liza put a hand on her new friend's wrist to calm her. There was no point in arguing with someone that ignorant.

Faith had clenched her fists, but to everyone's surprise, it was Faith's mother who stood up in the center of the room. "Mary, that's my son-in-law you are talking about."

Faith's wide-open eyes told Liza that she was unaccustomed to being on the receiving end of her mother's support.

"As I recall, you weren't too pleased with the union or with the fact that he owns your old home," Mary said.

Though Lanie Harrington's face was bright red, she remained standing, facing Mary and the women who'd surrounded her in support. "I was wrong about him," Lanie said in a steel-laden voice. "And so are all of you."

"I have to agree." Caroline, her expression grim, stepped toward the woman. "Mary, I don't expect everyone here to agree on anything, but I do require you to object with respect. If you can't manage that, I'm going to have to ask you to leave my home."

"Well, I never. Gone are the days when the right kind of people chaired these committees." Mary picked up her purse and headed for the door.

The women beside her looked at one another, clearly unsure whether or not to follow. Two did. A few remained.

"Now then," Caroline said when the room had settled once more. "I call for a vote on whether or not to spend the fund-raising proceeds on the youth center. All in favor?" she asked, and followed by raising her own hand.

Faith's mother's hand was the next in the air. Maybe Lanie Harrington's fall from grace and her husband's incarceration had taught her something of value after all, Liza thought. She couldn't help but wish her own parents would come around the same way, not that she held out any real hope. They were stubborn in their beliefs and set in their ways.

The vote came down in favor of the idea, and Faith, Liza, and Kelly agreed to celebrate at Joe's once the meeting ended, and things wrapped up quickly afterward.

While Faith said good-bye to her mother and Caroline, Kelly excused herself to call Nash and stepped outside. Liza followed, checking her own messages. There was one from Dare saying he'd meet her at home by ten and reminding her to call if she needed him earlier. She smiled at his thoughtfulness and looked forward to seeing him later.

A few minutes later, Faith joined them and they headed over to Joe's. The women pulled up chairs around a small table and each ordered a glass of wine, except Faith, who favored club soda. They toasted in celebration.

"Faith, your mother is something else." Liza shook her head. "You must be so proud of how she's holding her head up after everything. And the way she stuck up for you..."

Faith smiled. "Yes, but don't be deluded. My mother is still...my mother. She can be as obnoxious to Ethan as the next person, but she's learned the value of supporting those close to her. Yeah, I'm proud in a twisted way." She shook her head and laughed. "But ten years ago she would have been no better than Mary."

Liza nodded in understanding. "My parents are still just like her," she said quietly. She was happy when talk turned to plans for meeting up at the caterers, meal tastings, and other things for the gala.

When a yawn escaped her lips, Liza couldn't help but laugh. "I'm exhausted. Would you all mind if we called it a night?"

"It's fine with me. Just coordinate with Dare so you won't be alone," Faith said.

Liza appreciated but didn't need the reminder. The fear never really left her, and she reached for her phone. She dialed his number but the call went to voice mail. She glanced at her watch. "He's not answering, but he should be off from work by now."

"When I spoke to Nash, he mentioned that Dare was going with Cara to check out a condo complex in Easton."

Liza turned to meet the other woman's gaze. "He what?"

Kelly fidgeted in her chair. "Went looking at condo units."

"With Cara?" Liza didn't know what surprised her more, that he hadn't mentioned it or that he took Cara along with him rather than her.

Which immediately set off alarm bells in Liza's head. Since when did she expect Dare to report his every movement to her? And why should it bother her if he was out with one of his closest friends and co-workers? Even if she was an attractive female.

Liza didn't know, didn't understand it. She just knew the idea of the whole thing had her stomach in an uncomfortable knot.

"Liza, are you okay?" Kelly asked, placing a hand on top of hers.

"Yeah," she mumbled. But was she?

"Maybe he just forgot to mention it," Faith said, shooting Kelly a glare.

Kelly narrowed her gaze. "Hey, nobody told me it was a secret."

"It's fine. He left me a message saying he'd meet me at home by ten. I don't know why it threw me. Silly, really. They work together. It makes sense that they'd-"

"What? Look at condos together?" Kelly asked, being blunter than Faith would have been.

"Kelly!" Faith yelled at her, but something in Kelly's face told Liza she understood her reaction.

"It's not like they're moving in together. They're just both looking to buy something and they went to check it out," Faith said. "Together." She added the last somewhat lamely.

"There's nothing wrong with friends doing that," Liza said.

"Nope, not at all. As long as the current girlfriend is told up front so she isn't shocked by the news. Right?" Kelly asked, looking at Liza.

"Right." She nodded.

Faith did as well, seeming to agree and understand.

But Liza was still thrown by the idea of Dare and Cara condo hunting together. Or Dare condo shopping at all, she realized. Which was stupid. Liza owned her own place. Why wouldn't Dare want to do the same?

And really, since she all but anticipated their relationship to end sooner rather than later, wasn't it better that he obviously expected the same thing as well?

Fifteen.

"I am in love with these condos," Cara said for the fifteenth time since they'd left Easton.

Dare nodded, not feeling the same pull that his friend did. "It's a nice area." But his heart wasn't in apartment hunting. In fact, he'd been uncomfortable all evening.

The pristine condominiums with their new appliances and empty spaces left him feeling equally empty. Cara, on the other hand, was contemplating buying.

"Come on. Let's go get a drink," she said, pulling into a spot behind Joe's instead of dropping him off at his car so he could drive back to Liza's.

He glanced at his watch. He still had an hour before he was due to meet Liza at her home, and since he hadn't heard from her that she'd be early, he figured he had time for a quick drink.

"Yeah, fine." He walked into Joe's and within seconds he heard the feminine laughter and distinctive voices.

Surprised, he headed over to the table of women. At the sight of Liza, the constricting feeling that had been banding in his chest all evening, the one that made the condo units seem cold and empty, suddenly eased.

"Hey," he said, unable to stop the smile that took hold.

"Hey yourself." Liza looked from him to Cara. "Hi, Cara," she murmured.

"Hi." Cara nodded.

"Well, this is a surprise!" Faith rose from her seat and kissed Dare's cheek.

"And good timing too, I might add," Kelly said. "Liza was just saying she was ready to leave, which would have ended our party early since we're her ride."

A quick glance at Kelly told Dare she had a full drink in front of her and wasn't ready to go home. Since Dare knew Nash was working on a big case and wasn't waiting for her, he figured that explained that.

"I'll be happy to take Liza home." He glanced at Cara. "Do you mind hanging with them?" he asked.