I bet I know what made you a believer, Bea said, with enough of an edge that Gloria knew a punch line was coming. Casanova the cameraman!

Excuse me? Ginger sat up straighter.

Roxanne nodded. Your gawking radiated so much heat I worried the wedding party would spontaneously combust.

Ginger eyed Roxanne with suspicion. Really? What about you and the new puppy head-peeper Rick invited here today? You two sure got chummy real fast.

That was business, Roxanne said, pulling back her shoulders. Eli is a pet behaviorist and hes going to help me with Liliths aggression issues.

It was business for me, too, Ginger said. Lucio is going to take a portrait of me and HeatherLynn.

Fine, Roxanne said.

Wonderful, Ginger said, draining her drink. Does anyone know if theyre still serving mimosas?

Gloria giggled. Roxanne and Ginger were less prepared than most shed dealt with. The women had been hurt so badly that theyd become resistant to enchantment. They were skeptics at a time when embracing the mystery would come in handy. The stumbling block for Roxanne was anger. For Ginger, it was fear. And from the beginning of time, anger and fear had been loves most formidable foes.

Not that there was any way to prepare for meeting your beloved, Gloria knew. There was no training for that sort of thing. It happened once in a lifetimeand that was if you were very, very lucky. Or had help.

In a nutshell, thats why she couldnt retire. Not quite yet.

Mrs. Needleman, did you fall asleep? Do you want to go to your room and rest a little before dinner?

Gloria opened both eyes to the vision of Beatrices concerned face. It was a kind face. It was a wise face. It was the face of a smart-ass who couldnt keep her nose out of other peoples affairs.

No wonder Gloria liked her.

Help me up, dear, she said. Bea was so strong she nearly shot-putted Gloria over the porch railing and into the gardens below.

Sorry, Bea said.

No worries. Gloria patted her arm, thinking now was as good a time as any for Beas first lesson. Finesse, Beatrice. The more subtle your intercession, the better. Keep that in mind.

Uh, okay, sure. Bea took Glorias elbow and helped her down the back steps, past the kitchen entrance, and down the walkway to her first-floor guest room.

Once the women made sure Gloria was settled, they told her theyd come by in three hours to take her to dinner. When Josies friends turned to leave, Gloria tapped Ginger on the shoulder.

Yes? Ginger asked, smiling.

It broke Glorias heart that a woman as pretty and good-hearted as Ginger had spent the majority of her adulthood with the wrong man. A real /schnegegi,/ shed heard. It happened more often than anyone dared admit, and, in Glorias opinion, it was one of the greatest of human tragedies.

But in Gingers case, the problem was fixable.

My dear girl, could you stay a moment? Gloria asked in her sweetest old-lady voice. Theres a little something Id like to discuss with you.