Lacey’s green eyes filled with tears. “I missed you, but I did what was best for you. I hope you know that.”

“I do.”

“And now you’ve taken in Starr. It’s all about taking care of family.”

“You don’t mind that she’s Daddy’s daughter with someone else?”

“What? No.” Lacey took a bite of lasagna. “Jimmy Don was never meant to be with just one woman. We were young and in love, and then you came along. A magical time. But our marriage never would have lasted. We’re too much alike. People in love should complete each other. Complement each other.”

“Are you in love?” Destiny asked.

“Not right now, but I hope to be again.” Her mother sighed. “It’s the best feeling in the world. Finding the one. Although I’ve never believed in forever, as you know.”

Destiny picked at her food. “Don’t you want that, Mama? Someone you can count on to always be there.”

“Maybe. But then I’d have to give up all the others. And there are plenty.” Lacey grinned, then her smile faded. “I don’t want you to worry about how I feel about you. You’re a joy to me. I hope you’ll find that joy with your sister. Did you adopt Starr?”

“I’m her legal guardian.”

“Maybe I should adopt. Aren’t there lots of orphans running around?”

There it was, Destiny thought, fighting irritation. The shift that would make her crazy. It would be followed by sharp words and a fight and the sense of being stuck in a never-ending loop of emotional conflict. Talk about exhausting.

“I’d need two,” Lacey mused. “So they could keep each other company.”

“We’re talking about children, not puppies,” Destiny said calmly.

“The same principles apply.”

“You can’t mean that.”

“There are differences, I suppose,” Lacey allowed. “You can’t take children to the pound if they get on your nerves.” Lacey smiled. “Although I do think I would look especially adorable with a couple of babies at my feet.”

“You’re always looking for distractions, Mama. What’s so bad about being you that you’re always looking to be someone else?”

Lacey froze, her glass halfway to her mouth. She stood suddenly and nearly ran to the living room. Seconds later she was back, her cell phone in her hand.

“Say that again,” she ordered. “What you just said.”

“That you distract yourself with ridiculous schemes that never—”

“No, that’s not it. I need the exact sentence. Or rather you do. There’s a song in that energy, Destiny. Tell me what you said, and I’ll email you the MP3 file of it.”

Destiny considered banging her head against the table but figured there was no point. Her mother would never change.

“What’s so bad about being you that you’re always looking to be someone else.”

Lacey tapped on her phone. “Got it. God, you’re talented! I’ve always known that.” She picked up her martini. “You should talk to Richard.”

“I don’t think so.” Destiny had nothing to say to her mother’s business manager.

“He knows people.”

“We all know people.”

“Oh, you know what I mean! You want to talk about me trying to be someone else? Let’s talk about you denying who you are. I’m not disappointed in you, Destiny, but I am worried. One day you’re going to wake up and realize you’ve been avoiding the truth about who you are. The sooner that happens, the sooner you honor your talent, the happier you’re going to be. What does your young man say about all this?”

She had to mean Kipling. Destiny thought about telling her he wasn’t her young man, only Lacey wouldn’t believe her, and even Destiny wasn’t quite sure if it was true or not. They were friends and they’d had sex and when she was around him...

“You have it bad,” her mother teased. “You have the look in your eyes. Isn’t it nice to be in love?”

“I’m not in love with him. I like him. He’s a good man, and I can count on him.”

“How’s the sex?” Lacey held up a hand. “Never mind. I’m your mother. It’s an awkward question, and I take it back. If my mama had asked that about Jimmy Don, I would have plumb died right there. For what it’s worth, I like him, too. He’s a handsome devil.”

Lacey leaned back in her chair and laughed. “You two could certainly produce some pretty babies.” Her eyes widened. “That’s it, Destiny! That’s what I need. Grandbabies. Then I get all the fun and none of the work. You get on that right away. You hear me?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The words came automatically, but Destiny’s brain had hopped three subjects and taken a sharp left. Babies. Babies came from sex. She’d had sex with Kipling, and they hadn’t used any protection.

None of which would have bothered her because it was her first time, and surely the body would protect her or something. Only it had been over three weeks, and she hadn’t gotten her period yet. Math might not be her strongest subject, but even she could add up one night of doing it, three weeks of being late and get that they might very well make a baby.

* * *

KIPLING LOOKED UP from his paperwork. “You could have come to me for the money, Shelby. I would have given it to you.”