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PROLOGUE

THE DAY Honor Grace Holland turned thirty-five, she did what she always did on her birthday

She got a Pap sy was pretty low on the totem pole of celebrations It was just easier to schedule the dreaded appointment if it was on aif not practical Faith and Prudence, her sisters, and Dana Hoffman, her closest friend, had planned to take her out, but there’d been a snowstorather this weekend for cake, so it wasn’t like the Pap s

She assumed the position on the exam table while her doctor kindly averted his eyes, and practiced the deep breathing the irritatingly flexible yoga instructor had deled like two little kids in church Didn’t work then, didn’t work now She stared at the Jackson Pollock print on the ceiling and tried to think happy thoughts She really needed to update the website Design a label for the new pinot gris Blue Heron Vineyard was launching Check the month’s orders

It occurred to her that work should not be her happy thoughts She tried to think of so not work-related She had sos, Honor?" Jere a lot You know me" And he did Jeremy Lyon was an old family friend as well as her sister’s ex-fiancé He was also gay, which didn’t seem to make his palpation of her ovaries any less yucky

Jereloves and smiled "All done," he said

Honor sat up fast, despite the fact that Jereood doctor handed her a prewarhtful that way He neverthe breast exa pad Ssport were in love with him, no matter that he likedher ar of that, are you seeing anyone, Honor?"

The question made her blush, not just because Jeremy’s famous hands had been Down Under, but also becausewell She was private "Why do you ask?" Did he want to fix her up? Should she say yes? Maybe she should Brogan was never--

"Just need to ask a few questions about your, um, certain personal aspects of your life"

Honor s a doctor, was still the cute boy who’d dated Faith all through college, and couldn’t quite forget that Honor was a few years older "If it’s covered by HIPPA, then the answer is--" Yes, indeed, as the answer? "The answer is yes Sort of And if you tell anyone in my family, I will kill you"

"No, no, of course not," he said, slad to hear it Because, uhter "Because why, Jer?"

He gave a half srimace "It’s justyou’re thirty-five now"

"Yes, I know What does that have to do with--oh" Her sto elevator

"Nothing to worry about, of course," he said, blushing again "But the years are precious Egg-wise"