"Is David going to help coach again?"

David was Melody's husband and one of two pediatricians in town. "He hasn't decided yet. Since Hoskins left, he's been on call a lot more. He hates it, but what can he do? They've been trying to recruit another doctor, but it's been hard. Not everyone wants to work in a small town, especially with the nearest hospital in Wilmington forty-five minutes away. Makes for much longer days. Half the time he doesn't get home until almost eight. Sometimes it's even later than that."

Beth heard the worry in Melody's voice, and she figured her friend was thinking about the affair David had confessed to last winter. Beth knew enough not to comment on it. She'd decided when she'd first heard the whispers that they would talk about it only if Melody wanted to. And if not? That was fine, too. It was none of her business.

"How about you, though? Have you been seeing anyone?"

Beth grimaced. "No. Not since Adam."

"Whatever happened with that?"

"I have no idea."

Melody shook her head. "I can't say that I envy you. I never liked dating."

"Yeah, but at least you were good at it. I'm terrible."

"You're exaggerating."

"I'm not. But it's not that big of a deal. I'm not sure I even have the energy for it anymore. Wearing thongs, shaving my legs, flirting, pretending to get along with his friends. The whole thing seems like a lot of effort."

Melody wrinkled her nose. "You don't shave your legs?"

"Of course I shave my legs," she said. Then, lowering her voice,

"Most of the time, anyway." She sat up straighter. "But you get the point. Dating is hard. Especially for someone my age."

"Oh, please. You're not even thirty, and you're a knockout." Beth had heard that for as long as she could remember, and she wasn't immune to the fact that men-even married men-often craned their necks when she walked past them.