Sweet Fortune

over, you know.”
    “I know. I don't have a lot of money saved, but I've got some. We can sell one of the cars. I hate to say this, but it should probably be the Mercedes.”
    “Damn.”
    She patted his arm sympathetically. “On the plus side, I'm very good at finding jobs.”
    He moved on top of her, cradled her head between his hands, and smiled down at her. “It's not going to be too bad. I've got the stake I was planning to use to buy into Benedict Fasteners. I'll use it start up another management-consulting business. I've done it once. I can do it again.”
    “I know.”
    “Most of the money will have to go into the new business, though. There won't be a lot left over. Not for a while.”
    “Don't worry about it.” Jessie stroked his shoulders. “I'm not. I know you can make it work, Hatch.”
    He looked down at her glowing face and was filled with a deep sense of wonder and awe. “Where have you been all my life?”
    “Waiting for you.” She drew him down to her, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.
    Hatch entered her with a slow, aching tenderness, letting her pull him deep within her body. He watched the desire grow in her eyes and knew a sense of completeness that he had never felt before in his life.
    Nothing else really mattered, he decided. Not the uncertainties that lay ahead, not the loss of the bright, successful future he had been planning at Benedict Fasteners.
    Nothing mattered except Jessie and the baby they were going to make together.
    “I'm going to be one hell of a father for our kid, Jessie.” It was a vow as binding as any oath he would ever take.
    “Yes. I know.”
    “But I'll be an even better husband.”
    “I know.” She smiled brilliantly up at him. “And don't worry. Maybe we can find a way to keep the Mercedes.”
    “Damn right we will.”

    Elizabeth finished paying for the book on famous women scientists, picked up the paper sack, and turned from the counter to join Jessie.
    “I'm ready. You want to go look at clothes now?” Elizabeth glanced up inquiringly as they left the bookstore and ambled out into the crowded shopping mall.
    “Nope. I don't want to be tempted,” Jessie said, feeling extremely noble and virtuous and terribly thrifty. “Hatch and I will have to watch every penny for a while until he can get his new business established.”
    “Does this mean the big wedding production is off?”
    “Afraid so. Don't worry, you'll still get to be my attendant. We'll just be cutting back on some of the extras. Like serving a large buffet to three hundred wedding guests, the way the moms had planned.”
    “I'm still going to get to wear the dress Mom picked out for me? And the little hat?”
    “Definitely. Hatch and I will probably just wear jeans, naturally, but you can wear the fancy bridesmaid's dress. No problem.”
    Elizabeth slanted her a speculative glance to see if Jessie was teasing her. “Thanks. I can hardly wait. What about the engagement party?”
    “Oh, it's still on for Friday night. Hatch refused to let me cancel it. Said we weren't so hard-up that we couldn't celebrate the engagement. It won't cost all that much, anyway, if only you and David show up. Do me a favor and don't order the lobster, okay?”
    “It's going to seem strange, just David and me there.”
    “I know,” Jessie said quietly. “But we'll all have a good time.”
    Elizabeth looked away, apparently studying a window display. “I'm going to miss you, Jessie.”
    Jessie put her arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “I'm going to miss you too. But you'll be able to come and visit us as often as you want.”
    “Hatch won't mind?”
    “No. He won't mind.”
    “Do you think you'll go all the way to Arizona?”
    “Hatch isn't sure yet. A lot depends on where he thinks the best prospects are for his new business.”
    “I hope you just go to Portland. I could get down to Portland on the train as often as I wanted.”
    Jessie took a deep breath and blinked back the moisture in her eyes. “I sort of hope we go to Portland too. But either way, it will be all right, kid. I promise you.”
    “Everything's going to change, isn't it?”
    “I'm afraid so.”
    “I hope you're going to be real happy with Hatch.” Elizabeth turned her face upward again, revealing the tears behind her glasses. “I want you to be happy, Jessie.”
    The tears in Jessie's own eyes spilled over. “Thank you, Elizabeth. Thank you very much.” Jessie pulled her