Chapter One

Feeling more than a little disconnected from the crowd, Hayley McKeon stood off to one side taking in the large, brightly lit event room. Maybe she wouldn't have felt out of it if she hadn't worked late last night-Friday, of course-but then maybe being alone among so many chattering groups was responsible.

You can't do anything about it, kid, she reminded herself. Getting divorced means turning into a "one" again.

Determined not to go down that road today, when singlehood was what she'd wanted emotionally, financially, and in every other way, she took a deep breath. Unfortunately, the air was warmer than she liked and smelled too much of people and whatever they were offering at the food booth. Still not moving, she concentrated on her surroundings. She hadn't been to a gems and minerals show for a couple of years and had forgotten how exciting yet overwhelming they could be.

As a rough guess, she estimated there were at least forty separate booths in addition to the elaborate, glass-enclosed displays in the middle of the cavernous room. People filed slowly past the central displays while some of those in front of the booths showed no interest in moving on. Much as she wanted to see what was for sale on the various tables, getting close enough to do her own gawking and purchasing was going to be a challenge.

A challenge she had to meet unless she wanted to spend the foreseeable future and beyond gritting her teeth every time her boss at Galpan Enterprises asked/ordered her to work late.

It's your fault, sis. If you were here, we'd be pushing folks aside and damn the consequences, and I'd be

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