It didn’t. The only thought that did occur to her was that her mother would disown her for the way she kept house and organized meals. The thought of her mom instantly sent a wave of uneasiness through Bett’s mind. Elizabeth was in Milwaukee, only a few hours’ drive by car. When Bett was being honest with herself, she considered that distance exactly enough; she was able to see Elizabeth often without the two women being on top of each other. Not that they didn’t care about and love each other, but having such very different values, they inevitably, and sometimes sadly, clashed.

Bett stared at the offerings in the refrigerator, unconsciously biting her lip. Her father had died exactly thirteen months and four days ago; she was not likely to forget. She and her dad had been a matched pair; they both liked football games on Sunday afternoons and fooling around in the yard and talking with their feet propped up on the coffee table. Her mother was not at all that way. Elizabeth had not been coping well since Chet’s death. Bett was at a loss, not knowing how to help her mother, who was so different from her in every way. That geographical distance had begun to seem something she should feel guilty about.

“Bett?”

She chuckled at Zach’s growl, other thoughts chased away. Her husband was hardly likely to forget her desertion at the pond. Zach strode into the kitchen and paused, hands on hips, watching her as she started to prepare a picnic dinner of ham slices, cheese, fresh fruit and raw vegetables with dip. It was too hot for heavier fare, anyway.

“Did I or did I not tell you to come in here and put your feet up?” he asked mildly.