“Look, here’s the deal. You get married and there you are! The blushing bride! But pretty soon you realize that you’re supposed to keep a spotless house, cook fabulous meals, make all the birthdays and holidays gorgeous and unforgettable, have Einstein babies with perfect manners, for heaven’s sake never age or gain an ounce, be super nice to his family, and oh, you’ve got to be a porn star in the bedroom. And you may or may not be required to have a career.”

“That sure seems like a lot,” I said. “But didn’t Charlie help you around the house? Didn’t he, like, I don’t know, cut the grass and take out the garbage?”

“Are you kidding me? Prince Charles get his hands dirty? Charlie never lifted a finger! He’d say, call somebody!”

“How do you like that?”

“Look, Holly, here’s what I’m telling you. If you think you’d like to do all that for Archie, you need to get in there and steal his heart before it’s too late. I mean, who knows? Maybe this dentist doesn’t have her hooks in that deep.”

“I’ll think about it,” I said. “It sounds like a lot of work for not a lot of compensation.”

“It is. That’s why I’m never, and I mean never getting married again. But I know you. We’re as different from each other as we could possibly be. You’re a born homebody slash nurturer, and I’m going back to being a party girl. Big time. You won’t be horrified if I sleep around a bit, will you?”

What was she saying?

“If you’re going to misbehave, please do it in Mount Pleasant. Better yet? Take yourself up the road to Columbia. Okay?” I said and thought, Great. “I’m going to go start supper.”

“One must avail oneself as opportunities arise,” she said with a smirk. “Geography has no conscience.”

“Sweet Jesus, save us,” I said and went inside to make pot roast. So much for playing hard to get.

A few days later I was in the yard, pulling weeds, when Archie came home. His boys were at my kitchen table doing their homework. I’d made them a snack called Ants on a Log, which was celery stuffed with creamy peanut butter and raisins dotted across the top. They thought I was the best cook in the world. Of course, I was pretty grimy and a bit sweaty, because when you’re serious about weeds, mulch, and vermiculite plus water, you’re making mud pies all over yourself. Usually, when I saw Archie, I looked like I had just crawled out of the marsh.

“Hey!” I got up and brushed off my knees when I heard his car door shut. “Tyler and Hunter are in my kitchen. How was your day?”

“Good. Very good. Your flowers look amazing.”