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Six years ago Bethanne had been desperate for hione What she’d craved was exactly what Grant wanted now--for everything to go back to the way it had been At the ti They’d been happy, and could be again

When it beca and Grant fully intended to go through with the divorce, an all-consue had taken root She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat At night she lay awake plotting revenge One day Grant would be sorry He’d beg her to take hih in his face He would pay for what he’d done

Then, several months after the divorce was finalized, she ith that fa in the pit of her sto bitterness couldn’t continue As the saying had it, the best revenge was living well--living a successful, independent life So Bethanne had dedicated herself to her business

Gradually, she’d stopped thinking about Grant She embraced her new life, her new identity Indirectly, she had Grant to thank for her flourishing business, her circle of loyal new friends, for the strength and confidence she’d never known she had It felt odd to her now that she’d once been content to be si after his social affairs and staying in the background

Dinner for old times’ sake? Just the two of them?

In the years since the divorce, Bethanne had dated a number of men Besides Tiffany’s ex, a couple of the her business that neither relationship had lastedto make a serious commitment to anyone Those relationships, albeit short, had boosted her depleted ego She’d enjoyed the-term coiving Grant an answer She needed to ponder her ex-husband’s newfound contrition, and there was noIt was both productive and conte while you meditated on your problems That hy she’d stopped at Lydia’s--to pick up yarn for the elegant fingerless gloves she’d lanced up fro on and se! The cashmere yarn’s in"

Bethanne s had seen her through the darkest days of her life Annie was the one who’d signed her up for classes, because even dialing the phone nue back then; the smallest tasks had seemed insurmountable In retrospect, Bethanne knew she’d fallen into a dangerous depression

Annie had enrolled Bethanne in a beginners’ sock-knitting class Meeting the other woave her courage and the deterer wo class that she’dthe "angel" who’d helped her launch Parties Her class her confidence one stitch at a ti of Bethanne’s new life And Part Two turned out to be better than Part One had ever been Was it possible to knit the two halves together again? Did she want to?

"The pattern isn’t difficult," Lydia told her as she brought the yarn to the cash register "Once you do a couple of repeats, I’m sure you won’t have a probleure it out"

Bethanne paid for the purchase, grateful that Lydia had wound the yarn, saving her the effort At first, she’d considered knitting Courtney’s veil, but there wasn’t tiloves were a far loves would be beautiful enough to becoeneration to the next

"Alix was in this week and brought Tommy with her," Lydia said as she handed Bethanne the yarn "You wouldn’t believe how rown It’s hard to believe he’s nearly a year old"

Alix, a friend of theirs, was employed as a baker at the French Café across the street "She’s gone back to work?"

Lydia nodded "Just part-ti in the water over there" Lydia grinned "Or the coffee"

So ood

"How’s Casey?" Bethanne asked about Lydia’s adopted daughter A couple of months before, when Casey turned thirteen, Bethanne had planned her birthday party

"Casey’s fine," Lydia assured her "She had a few acadeain It’s not the end of the world but Casey tends to get down on herself We’re working on that" Lydia leaned against the counter "The poor kid cae"

"No doubt about that" Bethanne had to ad their hearts and their hoirl

"It helps that she’s so close to one," Lydia said, her voice subdued

"Is yourokay?"

Lydia rubbed her eyes "Not really" She gave a s, and that’s so hard to watch You know, she soets who I am but she always remembers Casey I think it’s one of those small miracles It makes Casey feel important and loved, which she is Everyone at the assisted-living complex adores Casey I wouldn’t be surprised if they hired her once she’s old enough to have a job Her patience with Mo their stories"

Bethanne nodded syh tiuilty of rushing visits myself, but not Casey She sits and listens for hours and never seeet impatient, even when Moaret?" Bethanne noticed that Lydia’s older sister, who often worked with her, wasn’t in the store

"She took the day off Wednesdays are slow, and she had a dentist’s appointaret was a store fixture and so different from Lydia that new custoood-hearted but tended to be gruff and opinionated, and took a bit of getting used to "How’s business going?" she ventured, aware that she was the only person in the store at the ly well" Lydia cheered visibly "People turn to do recessions, and lots of people want to knit these days"

"Have you talked to Anne Marie and Ellen since theythe yarn display "Practically every day Ellen didn’t want to leave Blossom Street but I see her as hborhood and has definitely, Anne Marie had adopted the girl after volunteering at a local grade school Although Lydia had never said so, Bethanne knew that Ellen’s adoption had influenced her and Brad to make Casey part of their family