Page 4 of Help Wanted: Wife

“There’s nothing you can do, and Krogan’s responsibilities need his attention.” She glanced at her friend’s husband, catching a flicker of relief on his face before he masked it.He was afraid Hope would insist on staying longer.Counting the four days roundtrip travel time, he’d be gone from his planet almost two weeks—far too long for the leader of a planet. But he’d made the trip for the wedding and then extended their stay on Terra Nova so Hope could console Prudence. It was a huge concession for a man of his stature. He loved her very much.

Pru’s chest constricted with envy and sadness. Engaged to her childhood sweetheart, she had been considered the lucky one, while Hope had despaired of ever meeting Mr. Right. In a short time, their situations had reversed.

“I’m glad you both came. I am grateful for all your help,” Pru said.

After receiving William’s message, she’d been so shell-shocked and humiliated, she couldn’t face the guests, couldn’t even bear to tell her parents. Hope had taken charge, informing her mom and dad what hadhappened and announcing to the guests the wedding had been called off. Later, with Pru’s mother, she’d arranged for the return of the wedding gifts and assisted with a million other little tasks Pru couldn’t deal with. Krogan had rolled up his sleeves and helped her father with the teardown of the wedding venue, ensuring chairs and tables were returned and removing the decorations.

“It is little consolation now,” Krogan said, “but any man who would jilt you on your wedding day is not a man worth marrying. You can do much better.”

William hadn’t merely jilted her; he’d humiliated her in front of a hundred people. He’d had plenty of opportunity to back out—when they’d set the date, when they’d chosen the wedding venue, when her mom started working on her dress, before they sent out the invitations,at the rehearsal the day before the wedding. How could he have gone through that and pretended everything was fine? He’d acted so loving, and it had all been a big, fat lie. Any step along the way, he could have backed out. But no. He’d chosen theirwedding dayto break it off—in a tech-tab message. He didn’t even have the balls to tell her to her face.

“That’s what I keep telling myself.” She forced a smile. Any woman could do better than a cowardly cheat. Including the barmaid he’d eloped with. The skank would find out one day that if a man will cheatwithyou, he’ll cheatonyou.

However, she had no intention of trying to do better. How could she trust a man ever again? She’d known William for twenty-three years! She’d come home from her first day of school and announced to her parents she was marrying a boy named Will. The two of them had been inseparable, best of friends then boyfriend and girlfriend then lovers. There was nobody on Terra Nova she knew better than William. How could she have been so wrong about him? There had to have been signs.

Like him postponing the wedding time and again?They were both twenty-eight. The first wedding date had been set five years ago then rescheduled for three years ago then set for a week ago. For each postponement, William had had what sounded like a legitimate excuse—a new job, a family illness—

But, with a flash of epiphany, she saw the truth. He’d gotten cold feet. Why couldn’t he have been honest?

She hadn’t just lost her fiancé—she’d lost one of two best friends. And now the other one was leaving to return to Caradonia. Her shoulders slumped.

Hope touched her husband’s arm. “Krogan, would you give us a minute please?”

“Sure.” He looked at Pru. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Sorry for your loss was what people said when somebody died. But that’s kind of what it felt like—like William had died. Except for the anger and the betrayal.

“Hope has mentioned you often, so I’m glad I got a chance to meet you. I wish it had been under more auspicious circumstances,” he said.

“Thank you, Krogan. Despite the way things worked out, it was a real pleasure to meet you. You’ve made Hope very happy.”

The door closed behind him. Hope rubbed her baby bump and fixed a sympathetic gaze on Pru. “Are you going to be okay?”

“I’ll manage. Don’t worry.” She didn’t know how she would get over this. One of the people she trusted most in the world had betrayed her.

Hope tossed the jacket on the bed aside, nudged the tech-tab out of the way, and sat.

“Clifford said you haven’t been back to Flour Power.” Clifford owned the bakery where Prudence worked and Hope used to work.

“I’m on my honeymoon,” she said bitterly.

“Your parents say you’ve barely left the house in a week.”

“I can’t face people right now,” she admitted, her gaze flicking to the tech-tab. Hope hadn’t noticed what was on the screen yet. “Their pity. It’s so humiliating. Everybody in Bloomhaven knew we were a couple.” How many of theconcernedwedding guests and villagers knew William was screwing the bimbo? Had they come to the wedding expecting drama? William had invited the skank to the wedding!

“Everyone sympathizes. They’re on your side.”

Sympathy, pity. Potato,potahto. She eyed the tech-tab. Could she grab it before Hope noticed what was on the screen?

Hope followed her gaze. Her mouth formed an O. “Cosmic Mates? Why are you looking at that? You’re not planning on signing up. Tell me you’re not.”

“Why not? You did.”

“My situation was different. You’re suffering emotional trauma. This isn’t the best time to make a life-altering decision.”

“Gleezer wasn’t traumatic for you?” Pru countered. Hope’s horrid stepmother had conspired with Ivan Gleezer, Bloomhaven’s former mayor, to force Hope to marry him. Her friend had fled Terra Nova and wed an alien stranger to escape a fate worse than death.

“Not the same thing,” Hope insisted. “My heart wasn’t broken. You loved William. Don’t do anything rash. Let yourself get over this first. If Cosmic Mates still appeals to you, then do it.”

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