Chapter Four

      “Who ordered this?” Lee Murphy asked as their waiter delivered a basket of steaming cheese garlic bread.

      Dana shook her head. “Don’t look at me. I wouldn’t have ordered it, but I don’t mind helping everyone eat it.”

      Katie Sheppard smiled. “You know they just bring it unless we tell them we don’t want any. It’s a tradition.”

      “Calories,” Lee said, eyeing the basket, then grabbing a slice. “Unnecessary calories.”

      “But if we didn’t actually order the food, the calories don’t really count,” Dana said.

      Her two friends laughed. When the waiter reappeared, they gave him their order, then settled in for a chatty lunch. Dana sipped her diet soda and listened while Katie talked about her wedding plans. The affair would be simple, with only family and close friends.

      “I’m not going to have a maid of honor,” Katie said, her brown eyes crinkling as she smiled. “I want the two, of you to be my attendants, though. Just like we promised in high school.”

      Dana looked at Lee. “I can’t believe I’m about to get all teary.”

      Lee grimaced. “Terrible, isn’t it? We should be annoyed because she broke the pact. Next thing you know we’ll be planning a wedding shower.”

      Dana shrugged. “I was thinking about a brunch.”

      “Me, too,” Lee admitted, then laughed. “We’re hopeless.”

      Katie addressed them both. “So you’re really all right with this? I know we promised, but...” She smiled. “I can’t help it. I love him.”

      “We understand,” Lee told her. “What’s a little promise among friends?”

      Katie picked up a piece of garlic bread. “I feel badly about that. Really I do. Does it help to remind you two that I really meant it at the time?”

      Lee touched Katie’s arm. “You don’t have to explain. Dana and I aren’t mad at you. Why would we be? You’ve found a wonderful man who loves you, and you’re going to spend the rest of your life with him. We’d be pretty crummy friends to want to stand in the way.”

      “She’s right,” Dana added. “Be happy, Katie. That’s what this time is all about.”

      “Thank you.” Katie reached down and pulled a magazine out of her oversized purse. “I was hoping you’d say that So I brought a copy of a bridal magazine. There are a few dresses I think you’ll like.”

      Lee and Dana groaned in unison. “Nothing with ruffles,” Lee said. “I mean that, Katie. No cute bows, no little capes on the shoulders and definitely no trains.”

      Katie held up her hands in mock surrender. “That was never my plan. I was thinking more along the lines of simple and elegant.”

      She opened the magazine and angled it toward Lee. Dana glanced at the picture, but found her attention drifting from the conversation of dress styles and colors. Not that she wasn’t interested in her friend’s wedding. She was still adjusting to the fact that Katie was marrying a doctor.

      Years ago, after graduating from nursing school, the three lifelong friends had signed a pact swearing none of them would ever marry a doctor. They all had their reasons. Katie’s doctor father had always been available to everyone but his family. Lee’s father, also a doctor, had gotten Lee’s mother pregnant, then left her with an illegitimate baby. Dana’s father had also left She had watched her mother wasting her life, waiting for a man to come rescue her after her divorce. Her fantasy had always been to marry a doctor, and she’d refused to go out with several honest, decent men simply because they didn’t fit her preconceived notion of what she wanted.

      Until a few months ago, the three friends had kept their promise. Then Katie had gotten involved with her close friend Mike Brennan. Dana couldn’t blame her. Mike was one of the good guys and wildly in love with Katie. Marriage was the next obvious step in their relationship. Turning her back on a very special life of love would be as foolish as Dana’s mother’s insistence on holding out for a white knight, who never showed up.

      But... Dana bit back a sigh. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but at times she was envious of her friend. She didn’t want to get involved with a doctor, but she did want to find someone she could care about Someone who would care back. Like most women, she wanted a family—including children and a husband. Focusing on her career hadn’t left her much opportunity to socialize. Maybe now that she’d received her promotion she could start taking care of her personal life.

      “So what do you think?” Katie asked, turning the magazine so Dana could see the photograph of the bridesmaids’ dress.

      The dark-green gown had a boat neck and long sleeves. The simple bodice set off the floor-length, tulip skirt.

      “This part comes off,” Katie said, pointing to the skirt “See the knee-length panel underneath? It’s really a shorter skirt, so you can wear the dress again, to a party or something.” She chewed on her lower lip. “Do you like it?”

      Dana glanced at Lee and nodded. Her Mend smiled. “We love it. No frills, no ruffles and no bows, which pleases me. But this is your wedding, Katie. Are you happy with it?”

      “Yes. I looked when I went shopping for my dress, and I really like this one best We need to arrange a time to go order them.”

      Before they could continue, their waiter returned with their food. All three had ordered grilled-chicken salads. Dana thought about all the lunches they’d shared since graduating from nursing school. By now they should have their own table at the restaurant Or at least a plaque on the wall, commemorating their patronage. The thought made her chuckle.

      An hour later, she and Lee started across the street toward the hospital, while Katie got into her car to make a quick trip home to check on her father. He was doing better, but was still not as strong as before his heart attack.

      “You were quiet at lunch,” Lee said. “Is everything all right?”

      “Fine,” Dana told her. “I was just thinking about things. Katie marrying Mike. I’m really happy for her, but it’s strange.”

      “To think about her marrying a doctor?” Lee asked. “But if it makes her happy, that’s what counts.” She glanced at Dana. “It’s none of my business, but how are you doing, now that Trevor’s back in town?”

      “Tough question,” Dana admitted. “I’d feel better if we weren’t neighbors.” She’d already filled both women in on that particular detail. “As far as dealing with him at the hospital...I guess I’m doing as well as can be expected. Nothing has changed. The nurses are lining up to date him. He’s already been out with two that I know about. At least I don’t have to worry about having a crush on him.”

      Lee stiffened slightly. “A crush wouldn’t be so bad.”

      “It would for me. I gave Trevor my heart once and he trampled all over it.”

      “I know. I’m sorry. That was really difficult for you.”

      They walked into the hospital. Dana paused by the reception desk. “Trevor and I have talked about the past,” she said, her voice low so that they wouldn’t be overheard. “He brought it up when he first came here.”

      Lee raised her eyebrows. “I’m surprised. Did he apologize?”

      “Not exactly. He said he wanted to explain. He swore he wasn’t the one to spread the rumors about him and me. He said the only person he told was Joel Haddock.”