Theresa leaned against the kitchen counter. “Yeah, when I was growing up, we were always in apartments. My dad died when I was eight, so it was my mom and brother and me. We did have a duplex once, and that was nice...” She trailed off. “You can imagine this neighborhood is like my dream come true. I love everything about it.” She crossed her ankles, kicking dried mud onto the linoleum, which reminded me of the scuffs I’d seen when I’d first entered the house. How bad had it gotten that I let myself get scared over dirt?

“Shoot. Let me clean that up,” Theresa said. “The paths by the lake are so stinking muddy right now.” She wet a paper towel and picked at the mud flecks, her ponytail whipping around.

“Don’t worry about it. It gets everywhere,” I said.

Theresa tossed the dirty towel in the trash and stood up. “Ugh, I feel like such a mess sometimes. I just hope Adam didn’t expect a homemaker when he married me. Because that I am not.”

This was the first time I’d seen her with her hair in a ponytail rather than curled down around her shoulders, and she looked much younger this way. She was in workout clothes—navy blue yoga pants and a white fleece jacket, dewy, flawless skin. I had to admit, Theresa Pressley was a classic beauty. I was betting she was the type of woman who could eat whatever she wanted (and did) and stay slim. Meanwhile, I’d been gaining a steady five pounds every couple of years even though I hadn’t changed one thing about my diet.

Theresa didn’t seem to realize how good she had it. If anything, she seemed desperate to please. She hadn’t pushed back once about planning the party or volunteering at the school. It was like she was trying as hard as she could to be our friend. And right then, with the way everything was going, I was enormously glad to have her, a loyal soldier, at my side.

“I would imagine he married you because you’re smart and ambitious, not for how well you can cook a casserole,” I said.

She laughed. “You’re always so put together, so confident. I wish I could be more like you, Kendra.”

Ah, flattery will get you everywhere, my dear. I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy it. And I needed it right now.

I ran my fingers through my hair. “Usually, yes. Not today, though.”

“I did scare you, didn’t I?” Concern washed over her face. “Do you want me to stay and hang here for a little bit?”

“Oh stop it,” I said. “The guys should be home any minute now.”