LOST AND FOUND HUSBAND by Sheri Whitefeather Page A

relate to each other. Eric was the odd guy out. Or more like the old guy out. He wasn’t ancient, but compared to Dana and Kaley, he might as well be.
    Dana said, “I’ll do my best to keep it simple and cost-efficient, with just family and a few friends.”
    “As long as you make it nice for yourself.”
    “And for you, too.”
    “I’m sure you’ll make it nice for both of us.”
    “Do you want to shop for the rings now?” she asked. “I think it would be fun to get started.”
    “Sure. I’ll get my laptop.” And make their engagement official.
    * * *
    On Sunday, Kaley flitted around Eric’s kitchen, making a tray of finger sandwiches that she paired with store-bought salads and snacks. Eric watched her as she prepared to play hostess. She seemed nervous about meeting Dana.
    “I wish I was a better cook,” she said. “I wish I could make a special lunch for all of us.”
    “You baked cupcakes and cookies last summer.”
    “Because Victoria helped me. I never could have done that on my own. Does Dana cook?”
    He thought about the big, hearty breakfast she’d served him on their morning-after. “Yes.”
    “As well as Victoria?”
    “As far as I can tell.” He’d even given Dana wifely points for her culinary skills.
    “And as good as Mom, too.”
    “Again, as far as I can tell. I’ve only had a couple meals that Victoria fixed and only one that Dana made. Your mom cooked for me all the time.”
    “I’m glad Dana is young. I think it will make her seem less like a stepmom and more like a friend. I don’t need another mother. I had Mom and I have Victoria. Besides, if Dana was your age, you two probably wouldn’t be having a baby. A woman in her forties probably wouldn’t have gotten pregnant that easily.”
    Dana certainly conceived easily. One time. One expired condom. Eric’s head was still reeling with it.
    The doorbell chimed, and Kaley made a little leap into the air. “She’s here.” She pushed him out of the kitchen. “Go get the door.”
    “I’m going.” He glanced back to see his daughter placing the sandwich platter on the table just so. When he opened the door, he couldn’t help noticing how cute Dana looked. She was wearing her hair in a mass of blond waves, with one of her signature silk flowers clipped at her ear.
    “That’s pretty,” he said.
    “It’s a plumeria blossom, like they wear in Hawaii.” She touched the white-and-yellow ornament. “It’s on my left side. See?”
    Yes, he saw. When they first discussed the flowers she routinely wore, she’d told him the right side meant a woman was single and the left side implied that she was taken.
    Should he lean forward and kiss her? Should he acknowledge that she belonged to him? Yes, he should. Not only was it a groom-type thing to do, he wanted to taste the sweetness of her lips. But because he couldn’t quite pull it off, he merely stated the obvious. “You’re taken now.”
    “I’m also pregnant and—” she removed her slip-on shoes and laughed “—barefoot.”
    He shook his head, smiled, wondered how a serious man like himself was going to fare as her husband. He really should have kissed her, but the moment had already passed. “You’re a nut, Dana.”
    “I try.” She put her shoes back on and gazed past him.
    He realized that Kaley must be standing there. He turned around. Sure enough, she was waiting to meet Dana.
    The girls introduced themselves. They even went right for a hug. Kaley put her hand on Dana’s stomach, too.
    “I’m so excited about the baby,” his daughter said. “I love the ultrasound picture you framed. It does look like a bean.”
    “Sweet Bean. Your dad had to convince me that name was okay.”
    “It is. It’s perfect. Which reminds me, I have a gift for you. Hold on, and I’ll go get it.” Kaley made a mad dash for her room and came back with a teddy bear. “It’s a Beanie Baby.” She squished it to showcase the beans that were inside it. “I always thought