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"I think Dad wants to get back together" Bethanne’s daughter, Annie, spoke with studied nonchalance "He still loves you, Mom"

Bethanne’s spoon hovered over her bowl of soup as they sat at atable in their favorite café This wasn’t actually news and shouldn’t have come as any surprise Didn’t cons, as recently as thisexcuses to call her

Six years ago her world had imploded when her husband confessed that he’d fallen in love with another wolance, Grant had walked out--out of their hoe, their lives And noanted back in

"Don’t you have anything to say?" Annie asked, toying with her fork She watched her mother intently

"Not really" She sed the soup and lowered her spoon for another taste

Annie, it see Grant told her he wanted a divorce would stay in her h He’d retained a lawyer and advised her to do the same, then coldly inforh their lawyers The less contact with her and their children, the better, he’d said A clean break was best

Grant’s decision had struck Bethanne with the force and unpredictability of a hurricane She’d stu to hold her fa to the serated around her "You really don’t have anything to say?" Annie prodded

"No," Bethanne said shortly She sed another spoonful of soup and reached for the herb scone "What disturbsfor hirace to look chastened, but she pushed her food away as if she’d suddenly lost her appetite

At one tiret what he’d done, that he’d seek her forgiveness and co back to her She’d wanted him to suffer for the way he’d treated her, for the hurt he’d inflicted when he’d turned his back on their children

But in the years since the divorce, Bethanne had gradually found her footing and, in the process, discovered a self she didn’t know existed--a stronger, independent Bethanne, a woed in the fire of despair Now her two children were on their own; her oldest, Andreas engaged to be raduation frohter, Annie was a year fro her MBA She worked part-time with Bethanne on the creative end of the party business Bethanne had established in the wake of her divorce

During her twenty years of e, Bethanne had become known for her lavish and inventive parties She’d taken pride in ettable events for clients and potential clients--an invitation to Grant’s hoe in certain circles Her birthday parties for Andrew and Annie were legendary But never once had she drea skills would eventually be parlayed into such a success

She’d started the business, which she called sih h she’d had to take out a substantial second round Grant had paid the required support, but depending on that would’ve hborhood If ever her children needed stability, she knew, it was in the period after the divorce She’d since paid off both es

To Bethanne’s astonishment, the business had taken off immediately She’d started small, with themed birthday parties for children The Alice in Wonderland Tea Party had been the most popular of the dozens of concepts she’d created With busy schedules, parents were looking for an easy, economical way to make birthday parties special Bethanne’s company had filled that need

Currently, there were five Parties stores in the Seattle area, including the original location, and she was considerating a deal that offered national franchising opportunities The key was to keep the ideas fresh and the prices reasonable This past winter she’d added a "birthday party in a box"--more scaled-down, do-it-yourself versions of her trademarked theme parties

A year earlier Bethanne had hired Julia Hayden as her corporate operations ifted She loved the job and had begun overseeing the co Bethanne to focus on creative development Annie worked with her, and the two of thes, which was now a popular trend, especially a childless, affluent professionals They’d expanded into other types of parties, too--anniversary and retirement celebrations, Christnaled for the check, and they went their separate ith a quick hug and a wave Annie alking back to the office, while Bethanne headed for Blosso had become one of her favourite activities When she needed to think, nothing helpedproject She felt a sense of happy anticipation as she parked in front of the yarn store, which ned by her dear friend Lydia Goetz

With the wedding only six weeks away, she’d wanted to knit sohter-in-law, to wear during the wedding

The wedding It hy Grant had called her teeks ago--their son’s iti this

Other than the occasional joint decisions they’dtheir children, they’d had little personal contact since the divorce Then Grant had phoned her with a question about a wedding gift for Andrew and Courtney He’d been friendly and relaxed And this week, he’d asked her to dinner