A Tricky Proposition(24)

What if she couldn’t do both well? Was she risking complete failure? No. She could do this. Even without a partner in her life to help her when things went wrong, or to celebrate the triumphs?

She was going to be awfully lonely. Sure, her parents would help when they could, but Lily was moving and Jason had his racing and his career to occupy him. What was she thinking? She would have her child and the practice to occupy her full attention. What about love? Marriage?

She brushed aside the questions. What good did it do to focus on something she couldn’t control? Planning and organization led to success, and she was a master of both.

With her confidence renewed, she poured wine from the bottle Lily had opened. As it hit her taste buds, she made a face. She checked the label and frowned at her sister.

“Since when do you drink Riesling?”

“I’m trying new things.”

“This is Evan’s favorite wine.”

“He recommended it so I bought a bottle.”

“Recently?”

“No.” Her sister frowned. “A while ago. Geez, what’s with all the questions? I tried a type of wine your ex liked. Big deal.”

Lily’s sharpness rocked Ming. Was her sister so upset with her that it threatened to drive a wedge between them?

Ming set down her wineglass. “I’m going to run over to Mom and Dad’s and pick up Muffin. Is there anything you need me to get while I’m out?”

“How about a bottle of wine you prefer?”

Flinching at her sister’s unhappy tone, Ming grabbed her keys and headed for the door. “You know, I’m not exactly thrilled with your decision to move to Portland, but I know it’s something you feel you have to do, so I’m trying to put aside my selfish wish for you to stay and at least act like I’m supportive.”

Then, without waiting for her sister’s reply, Ming stepped into her garage and shut the door firmly behind her. With her hands shaking, she had a hard time getting the key into the ignition of the ’66 Shelby Cobra. She’d chosen to drive the convertible tonight, hoping the fresh air might clear away all the confusion in her mind.

The drive to her parents’ house was accomplished in record time thanks to the smoothly purring 425 V8 engine. She really should sell the car. It was an impractical vehicle for a mother-to-be, but she had such great memories of the summer she and Jason had spent fixing it up.

After her spat with Lily, she’d planned to join her parents for dinner, but they were meeting friends at the country club, so Ming collected her dog and retraced her path back to her house. A car sat in her driveway. In the fading daylight, it took her a second to recognize it as Evan’s.

Because she and Jason were best friends and she knew there’d be occasions when she’d hang out with his family, Ming had made a decision to keep her interactions with Evan amicable. In fact, it wasn’t that hard. Their relationship lacked the turbulent passion that would make her hate him for dumping her. But that didn’t mean she was okay about him showing up without warning.

Ming parked the convertible in the garage. Disappointment filled her as she tucked Muffin under her arm and exited the car. She’d been hoping Jason had stopped by. He hadn’t called her or responded to her text.

When she entered the house, the tension in the kitchen stopped her like an invisible wall. What the heck? Evan and her sister had chosen opposite sides of the center island. An almost empty wine bottle sat between them. Lily’s mouth was set in unhappy lines. Her gaze dropped from Evan to the bowl of lettuce on the counter before her.

“Evan, this is a surprise.” Ming eyed the vase of flowers beside the sink. Daisies. The same big bunch he always gave her after they’d had a difference of opinion. He thought the simple white flower represented a sweet apology. He was nothing if not predictable. Or maybe not so predictable. Why had he shown up on her doorstep without calling?

Lily didn’t look Ming’s way. Had her sister shared with Evan her dismay about Ming’s decision to have a baby? Stomach churning, she set Muffin down. The terrier headed straight for her food bowl.

“What brings you here?” Ming asked.

“I came by to… Because…” He appeared at a loss to explain his reason for visiting.

“Are you staying for dinner? Lily’s making rack of lamb. I’m sure there’s enough for three, or I should say four, since usually she makes it for whomever she’s dating at the time.”

Evan’s gaze sliced toward Lily. “You’re dating someone?”

“Not dating exactly, just using him for sex.” Ming lowered her voice. “Although I think she’s ready to find someone she can get serious about. That’s why she’s moving to Portland.”