Page 26 of The Replacement Wife (New Hope 2)

“It’s just Mel.” I correct her.

Beth blinks rapidly. It’s clear she isn’t used to being corrected.

“Only Tom calls me Melanie.”

“What a shame,” she says, pouring tea into her cup. “It sounds so sophisticated.”

“Sugar?” I ask, nodding at the cup. Her eyes follow mine. It’s June’s china she’s holding. She notices this too.

“No. Thank you.”

She eyeballs the tray.

Pressing my lips together, suddenly I see my mistake: Just because Tom says she loves croissants does not mean she allows herself to have them. This makes me savor the moment all the more. I really take it in. Mistakes can work in ones favor that way, if you let them. Take the fake bun in my oven, if an example is what you’re looking for.

I see her leaning in. She’s bound to fall. “This is all very nice,” she tells me, straightening her back. I can see it takes all her restraint to stop herself from reaching out. I bet if I left her alone… She clears her throat. “But you know I can’t have these carbs.”

“That’s okay,” I say. “I’m eating for two.”

“If only the weight came off as easily as it comes on.”

I ignore her, and then I reach for a croissant. I place it beneath my nose and inhale deeply. Closing my eyes, I can relax into the aroma. “Mmmm.”

I make sure to give it the full effect before tearing a fluffy piece off and placing it on my tongue. I chew extra slowly. When I’m finished, I nod toward the tray. “So good. I hope you won’t mind if I have yours.”

Her mouth is open; she’s about to speak. At this point, I have no intention of sharing.

I murmur something inaudible and then, “Pregnancy cravings…are very intense.”

“I want to talk about the party,” she says, changing the subject.

My face falls. Then I let a bit of silence settle between us. “I know,” I tell her. “It didn’t turn out the way I’d wanted either.”

“The Men’s Alliance wasn’t happy with the final numbers.”

“Oh, that reminds me—” I meet her eye. “I’ve been meaning to ask how I can join the Women’s Alliance?”

Beth looks confused, although her face barely moves. Probably on account of all the filler. “There’s no such thing.”

I rest my hand on my chest and inhale deeply. I pretend to let what she’s said sink in. “Oh. Well, I just assumed…”

“Melanie, dear,” she says. She makes a clucking sound with her tongue to further convey her disappointment. Just in case I missed it. “Before you go any further, may I make a request?”

She shifts, and I see the light flicker behind her eyes. She’s going to relent and ask for the damn croissant. “It’s Mel,” I say calmly. “Just Mel.”

“Mel, right.” She crosses and uncrosses her legs. Her chin dips to her chest before finally she meets my eye. “I was really hoping to get off on a good foot.”

/> I picture her getting off. It isn’t pleasant. My face twists. Beth takes this as a concession.

“I realize you’re new. But we have standards to uphold.”

“With the Women’s Alliance?”

She doesn’t miss a beat. “There is no women’s alliance.”

I shake my head. “Oh, that’s right. You said that.”

Beth glances toward the clock. It’s weird how she knows everything in this house, maybe even better than me. “Tom mentioned you haven’t read the agreement.”