The fourth one was the worst. He was allergic to dogs. And horses. And cats. “Did you wash your hair? I’m wondering because you’re making me sneeze,” he said. Kelly handed him her napkin to blow his nose. When he came up from four sneezes in a row, she was gone.

Other than the dates, everything was the same with Kelly, but not so with anyone else.

Forey was at the Exton house all day and cooking not just baked goods but soups and stews and side dishes. It was enough to feed a city. From the amount sold at Mr. Gresham’s diner, it was certainly enough to feed the town of Mason.

They were so busy that only Kelly remarked on the fact that Vera was gone every weekend. “So is Adam,” Nella said, and then she and Forey giggled like schoolgirls.

Kelly went into her room and shut the door. Good, she told herself. Adam and Vera were spending whole days together. They needed to do that. Get to know each other all over again.

Part of Kelly was angry, but the larger part told herself that she was the one who’d made a big deal about the time she’d spent with him. But the truth was nothing they’d done had been out of line. Adam went to the bridal shop with her because Vera had stood her up. He went to meals with Kelly because he was hungry. They’d watched TV together because it was convenient.

She came up with a reason for everything they’d done together. But still, she remembered how good she’d felt at his apartment and when they went shopping. How they’d laughed together.

She sat up on the bed. “Kelly Exton,” she said aloud, “you need to find a boyfriend. A real one. Maybe I should advertise in the paper. Maybe I should—” She looked at her watch. Thank heaven it was time to go to work.

As soon as she got there, Betty handed Kelly a note.

“I can’t read this,” Kelly said.

Betty looked sympathetic. “You should’ve had Miss Wilson for first grade. She could have taught you how.”

“What?” Kelly was blank for a moment. “I can read. I just can’t read your handwriting.”

With a look of disgust, Betty took the paper. “It says ‘Montoya Farms.’”

“What do they need?”

“How would I know? I’m not a veterinarian.”

With an eye roll, Kelly went to Dr. Carl’s office. His door was open. “What’s going on at the Montoya place?”

“Lame horse. Go now before the pet owners start coming in.”

Kelly went to the door. “Can we do something about Betty?”

He looked serious. “Why would I want to? She can read. Maybe she would tutor you.”

“You’re so not funny.”

“You find someone else and I’ll hire her.”