Her voice was playfully teasing, but I still felt the need to apologize. "I'm sorry. I didn't..." Jeanine laughed out and put a hand on my arm.

"I'm not upset, really. It was wonderful hearing her voice like that."

"Like what?"

"Like a schoolgirl with a crush." She leaned forward, her voice low and conspiratorial. "You're a very lucky woman, Melanie."

My mouth was hanging open as I tried to find my voice, my mind whirling through what Jeanine had just said. "I don't, um, you might have the wrong idea, I think."

"I do?"

"I mean, ah, she's just a friend. We're just friends."

Her eyes said she didn't...