Free The Calendar Brides by Ginny Baird

great.”
    Jennifer slipped through the kitchen door, then, spotting Peter, slammed it quickly at her back. “Oh, hi!”
    He tilted his head to study them both. “What’s going on back there?”
    “Nothing for you to worry about,” Haley said.
    Jennifer couldn’t resist chiming in. “It’s a surprise.”
    Peter grinned and locked eyes with his fiancée. “It’s only a few days away, you know.”
    “I know. That’s why we have to get ready.”
    “I thought we were ready.” He lowered his voice and whispered to Jennifer. “She plans everything in advance. I mean, waaaayyyy…”
    Jennifer giggled and whispered back. “I know, I work for her.”
    “Very funny, you two.” Haley untied her apron, thinking a bike ride would feel good. It was autumn and a fine time to get out in the air, which was refreshing and not too cold. Though she was tough enough to take the frigid weather, too. She and Peter were accomplished skiers. She’d won the lotto when she found a guy like him. No, not like him . Him, precisely. “I’ll just be a minute.” Then she shot up the back staircase to prepare for their outing. Jennifer could run the shop for an hour or so. She certainly paid her well enough.  
    Haley wriggled out of her jeans and T-shirt, then strode to the bathroom to examine herself in the mirror. Wisps of hair had become dislodged from her ponytail and now fell around her neck. Not only that, her checks were dusted with flour and rosebud pink tinged her lips. And her hands! Oh, no. Haley flared out her fingers, seeing they were caked with flecks of dried icing and food coloring. She’d have to quickly scrub off, then get back downstairs. She ran the water hot and pumped some hand soap from the dispenser, lathering up her hands. Her engagement ring slipped, the heavy weight of the stone sliding around her finger and pointing toward the sink. She knew she should have had it sized, but hadn’t wanted to hurt Peter’s feelings by telling him it didn’t exactly fit. Maybe after the wedding, and once things had settled a bit, she’d bring it up, or possibly just sneak out and take care of it at a jeweler’s herself.  
    She cupped her hands beneath the running water to let the soap bubble, working it into a lather. Then she leaned forward to cleanse the grime from her face, quickly washing it off. Her palms slid around in a circular motion, once, twice, three times… Surely that was enough. Clink. Haley’s heart sank at the harsh metallic sound. Her eyes were still covered with suds. She brought her right hand to her left, her chest heaving. No. The ring was gone. Without even bothering to rinse, Haley grabbed a towel from the rack and wiped the soap from her face. Oh, thank God.  
    There, in the middle of the sink, right at the bottom of the basin, sat her very shiny engagement ring. She wanted to cry with relief, or shout with joy. She wasn’t sure which. But first, she had to retrieve it. Haley reached out her hand, but the next thing she knew, the edge of her towel had knocked the soap dispenser, which tumbled into the sink. Haley watched in horror as the soap bottle’s pump dropkicked her ring, sending it in a straight shot down the drain. It clinked then spiraled, the nauseating echo taunting her as it twirled away. Haley’s jaw unhinged and her eyes burned hot. This wasn’t just any ring. There was no replacing it.
     
    Snow lightly fell outside as Peter took Haley’s hands. He squeezed them in both of his, heating them with his touch. They were in a mountain lodge near Treetop, and had spent the day downhill skiing. While the temperature outside was well below freezing, in here it was toasty and warm. Flames leapt in the huge stone hearth and half-filled mugs of cocoa sat on the low wooden table before them. Their time here had been ideal. And, it was about to get better. Oh, how he hoped.
    “I had a great time with you today.”
    “Yeah, me too.” Her face was still flushed from the cold and a