âIf I had that window in my office, I wouldnât get any work done.â
Trista Van Zandt glanced up from her homemade turkey and cheddar sandwich to smile at her tall blond sister-in-law whoâd entered her office.
Kelly Van Zandt, beautiful in a rust-colored maternity dress that made the November leaves outside look drab in comparison, sat in one of the straight-backed chairs facing Tristaâs desk.
âIt is lovely,â Trista agreed. âMuch better than the view of the parking lot I had in Richmond.â
As a litigator for the law firm of Benson and Benson Tristaâs office on the fourth floor was small but had a nice view of the James River.
âOne more good thing about you and Aidan moving here.â Kelly smiled. âHow is my nephew?â
Tenderness welled up in Tristaâs chest at the thought of her seven-month-old son, Aidan, who at the moment was safely at Chestnut Grove Child Care Center. âAdjusting well to day care. But anxious to see his new cousin.â
Kelly rubbed her burgeoning belly. âJust a month to go.â
Trista was glad that her brotherâs wife would have a calm and peaceful last month before giving birth, so unlike the final month of her own pregnancy. âIs everything okay?â she asked.
Kelly brushed back her thick blond hair and smiled. âYes. I was out shopping for the baby the other day. I bought the cutest coming-home outfit in a neutral cream with bunnies, since I donât know if Iâm bring home little Carissa or little Cameron. Iâm so tempted to find out now what weâre having.â
âDonât. Believe me, the wait is worth it.â
âSo, how are you doing?â Kelly asked.
Trista had been expecting the question. Ever since sheâd arrived in town, her brother, Ross and his wife, Kelly, had made it their job to take care of her and Aidan. As if they had the time, what with running Tiny Blessings adoption agency, Rossâs private investigation firm and their own babyâs imminent arrival. Trista shrugged. âSame old, same old.â
âThatâs what I was afraid of,â Kelly grumbled.
âExcuse me?â
Concern darkened Kellyâs brown eyes. âIâm worried about you. Youâve done nothing but work and take care of Aidan. Why donât you let us babysit him this weekend while you go have some harmless fun?â
Trista mentally scoffed. Harmless fun wasnât something she had much experience with. Growing up in Brooklyn with alcoholic parents, sheâd spent too much time running wild and getting in trouble. She always relied on her big brother to bail her out.
Once sheâd realized the only way to find the security sheâd lacked growing up was through her own determination and work, sheâd applied herself to her studies.
She had an aptitude for litigation, and becoming a lawyer had seemed the best way to provide a stable life for herself. Sheâd be in control of her circumstances and have a decent salary. What more could she ask for?
But then sheâd met Kevin Hughes at the end of her second year of law school and that blew having a stable life to pieces. Sheâd fallen hard for his charm and charisma and married him against Rossâs advice.
Well, sheâd learned her lesson.
Love and happily-ever-after, she decided, were unrealistic aspirations for her. Only a very few, like Ross and Kelly, ever obtained true happiness.
Now her lifeâs goal was to provide a stable and secure home for her son. No matter what.
âYou and Ross are the ones who should be going out now while you have the time,â she stated. âOnce the baby arrives, youâll understand why I choose to stay home at night with Aidan rather than doing anything else.â
Kelly nodded in understanding. âOkay, then. How about joining Naomiâs project?â
âWho is Naomi and what is her project?â
Sitting forward with an eager expression, Kelly explained. âReverend Fraserâs wife, Naomi, created a Christian friends Web site called The Kingdom Room for singles so people all over the state can connect via the Internet. That would be a perfect way for you to get to know someone without having to go on dates.â
Shaking her head, Trista stated, âIâm not looking for a relationship. Been there, done that and not doing it again.â
âOh, honey, donât let what happened with Kevin sour you on love. I know God has someone in mind for you.â
Trista refrained from commenting on the ludicrous notion that God cared about her at all. If God thought anything about her it was that she wasnât worth His time.