Free This Thing Called Love by Miranda Liasson

playing up the Bachelor event. It’s all about advertising and making Brad look appealing. Then why did the slow burn in her chest make her feel like mainlining Tums? And why did she nurse a deep desire to track Erika down and bind her up with microphone cord so she couldn’t touch Brad?
    “All the money’s going to Mirror Lake Community Hospital,” Brad said. “We’re going to have live music and great food, and the bachelors are getting auctioned off after the cooking competition, so everyone should come on down to the waterfront.”
    “And how many bachelors will be showcasing their cooking talents?”
    “We’ve got a dozen, all of us Mirror Lake businessmen and professionals.”
    “I’m excited to announce that you’re one of the bachelors, Brad. So ladies, come prepared to bid. That’s Memorial Day, at the waterfront, 6:00 p.m.” She reached out and grasped Brad’s jaw and shook it playfully. “You are so cute!” She let out a giggle. Brad raised a brow, but didn’t move away. “Sorry,” Erika said into the camera, “I just couldn’t resist sampling the merchandise.”
    “Did she just touch him on the face ?” Olivia’s mouth dropped open. She snapped it shut before she realized she’d just said that out loud. Fortunately, Effie was too engrossed to hear.
    Olivia rose from the couch and walked to a side table with an automatic beverage brewer where she busied herself with making tea, grateful for an excuse to collect her thoughts.
    Seemed like everyone in Mirror Lake was smitten with Brad. Men liked him, women were crazy for him. And he was clearly very involved in the community. She scowled at his image, still grinning widely on the television. He certainly seemed to be enjoying promoting his event with Erika.
    The reporter was outgoing, sexy, and flirty. She was probably fun-loving, too. Olivia could see the appeal, and the stark contrast to her own life. She tended to date men who were working their way up the professional ladder as she was, with little time for relaxation. Her relationships got sandwiched in between long work hours and high-pressure deadlines. She wondered for the thousandth time if putting her personal life on hold for so many years to achieve her goals had been the right thing to do.
    She wished Effie weren’t so into the show so they could have a real talk. Olivia placed the tea on the coffee table and sat down again.
    “Effie, I—”
    “One second, dear. Brad’s talking to the mayor and the business council.” Effie remained mesmerized. At last she glanced down at Annabelle, who had fallen asleep in her arms. “Oh, would you take the baby? I’m getting a crick in my elbow.”
    Olivia lifted Annabelle and set her gently in her car seat. At last the show went to break. Effie grabbed Olivia’s hand, held it in both of her old, soft ones. “You’ll have to forgive me for being so excited about this crazy bachelor event. If you two had stayed together, I wouldn’t have to be so concerned about Brad meeting a nice woman and settling down.”
    “That was high school, Effie. We were just kids.”
    “Well, you’re not children anymore, are you, and neither of you is married.” She patted her hand and smiled a matchmaking grandma smile. “Oh, but things are so different now, aren’t they?”
    She said it facetiously, but they were different. In too many ways to count. Suddenly, the lump was back blocking her throat.
    Effie squeezed Olivia’s hands tightly. “Your whole life has changed faster than a gambler can bet away his fortune.” Effie hadn’t lost her talent to read her so well, even after all these years. “We’re all feeling lost, after all that’s happened. But look right there.” She canted her head toward the baby. “At that little bundle of trouble sitting in that fancy baby contraption. Both her parents live on through her.”
    Olivia pulled a hand loose from Effie’s grip and reached down to fiddle with the car seat straps. “Effie,