"Your father talked to Doug an hour ago. Your brother is officially a vice president. They announced it this morning."

"Ohmygod! That's great!"

Annabelle exuded enthusiasm, bubbled over with bliss, radiated relish, but her mother's ESP kicked in anyway. "Of course it's great," she snapped. "Honestly, Annabelle, I don't know why you have to be so begrudging. Doug has worked hard to get where he is. No one handed him a thing."

Except adoring parents, a first-rate college education, and a generous postgraduation cash gift to tide him over.

Exactly the same things Annabelle had been given.

"Only thirty-five," Kate Granger went on, "and vice president of one of the most important accounting firms in Southern California."

"He's amazing." Annabelle lifted her forehead from the burning hot steering wheel before it branded her with the mark of Cain.

"Candace is giving a pool party next weekend to celebrate Doug's promotion. They're expecting Johnny Depp."

Somehow Annabelle couldn't imagine Johnny Depp showing up at one of her sister-in-law's pool parties, but she wasn't stupid enough to express her skepticism. "Wow! That's impressive."

"Candace is trying to decide between a South Pacific theme or going with the western thing."

"She entertains so well, I'm sure whatever she decides will be perfect."

Kate Granger's psychic abilities were worthy of her own 800 line. "Annabelle, you have to try harder to get over your hostility toward Candace. Nothing is more important than family. Doug adores her. We all do. And she's a wonderful mother."

Beads of perspiration were forming at her hairline. "How's Jamison's potty training coming along?" Not Jimmy, Jamie, Jim, or any variation thereof. Just Jamison.

"He's so bright. It's only a matter of time. I'll admit I was skeptical about all those learning tapes, but here he is, only three, and what an amazing vocabulary."