In middle school and high school, Georgia and Asher had developed into miniature adults. Georgia blossomed and grew prettier, and Asher shot up like a flower, towering over her and all his classmates. He was destined to play sports and, all through school, he made friends wherever he went. Any girl would have been lucky to have Asher Beake, but he never left Georgia’s side. They rode to school together every morning and afternoon. They spent time together on the weekends. For a long time, I just assumed they were dating, it was only natural. I didn’t even know Rosalee existed back then and I don’t think Asher did either. It wasn’t until she moved back to town later that I really got to know the girl…

After high school, Asher left for law school and Georgia left to study for a degree in nursing; they drifted apart, and Asher met other women, sometimes bringing them home for breaks or holidays. None of them measured up to Georgia. Not even close.

When Rosalee moved back to town and she and Asher started dating, it became obvious that it was more than a short-lived fling. For some reason that I couldn’t quite grasp, my son was enamored by Rosalee. He laughed and smiled every time she was around, and seemed unbothered by her plain, messy appearance.

Finally, I had asked him—what was the deal with Georgia? By then, she was done with nursing school; like Asher, she had come back home to her family and roots. Why were they not pursuing something romantic? Why did he choose the frumpy Rosalee over the girl he’d known all his life, Georgia?

Ah mom. You know me and Georgia have always just been friends. I don’t think of her in that way, and she doesn’t either, Asher had said.

But he was wrong—I could see it in Georgia’s eyes when he told her the news about Rosalee. Georgia was jealous about his upcoming marriage, she had to be. I only wished she would try to stop him, stop this whole ridiculous charade before it was too late…

“There she is! Hello, darling!” I squealed, mustering all the excitement I could. It wasn’t hard when it came to Georgia, my greeting totally at odds with how I had greeted Rosalee earlier.