The Way of the Guilty: A Hope Street Church Mystery - By Jennifer Stanley Page 0,1

hand-embroidered smocks and Robeez booties. When we’d stroll around downtown, people would stop us on the street and just stare at my Gerber baby.” She sniffed. “Instead I find out I have a bicornuate uterus and even after surgery will have a tough time getting pregnant. It’s all I think about now!” She thumped the workbench and then eyed the sawdust on her palm in distaste. “I’ve never wanted anything so badly as I want this baby! Why did there have to be something wrong with me?”

Cooper cleaned up the sawdust using a small broom and dustpan. “Ashley, maybe you need to take a break from thinking about babies all the time. It obviously upsets you and if you’re worried about your marriage, perhaps you and Lincoln need some time alone together.”

“That’s exactly what I’m planning!” Ashley’s good humor immediately returned. “I’ve booked us a romantic cruise to the Bahamas as a surprise, but I need something incredible to wear when I tell him about the trip. Something that will ensure he won’t say no to taking a week off work. That’s why we’re going to Georgia’s party. I feel compelled to buy a whole bunch of things that’ll be on display there.”

“So it’s like a trunk show?” Cooper asked, silently wondering if she had the name right.

“Exactly. And all the women attending are married and go to my church, so I doubt there’ll be anything too scandalous for sale.” Ashley added, “I know it’s not your scene, Cooper, but it would really mean a lot to me if you were with me. And you might even find yourself picking out something to wear for that magical moment when you and Nathan are ready.”

“So this is all about buying pajamas and nightgowns?” Cooper shook her head. What a bizarre reason to have a party, she thought.

Ashley scrunched up her lips as though stifling a smile and said, “Precisely. Nightgowns and robes and stuff. And whatever you set your cap on will be my treat. It’s the least I can do since you’ve agreed to come.” Shouldering her bright orange purse, Ashley flicked a wave of glossy blonde hair off her shoulder and smiled. “This whole plan has given me a fresh dose of hope, Coop! I’ll pick you up at seven. Georgia always serves the most unbelievable desserts, but make sure you eat something for dinner.” She straightened several gold bangles on her wrist. “You’re going to need something in your stomach to soak up all the alcohol.”

During the following week, Cooper forgot all about the Pajama Party. This was understandable, being that a manufacturer recall on one of Canon’s most popular copiers had every employee from Make It Work! scurrying to replace drums and fuser units across the city of Richmond as quickly as possible.

Cooper was just returning from an assignment updating all the copiers at a pharmaceutical company’s headquarters when she was accosted in the break room by one of her coworkers.

“Cooper!” She drew back as Emilio Calabria’s bass voice with its heavy New York accent boomed in her ear. The dark-haired, square-jawed, muscular hunk grabbed her by the elbow. With his nut-brown eyes ablaze, he looked more like a romance cover model than ever, but Emilio was too arrogant and chauvinistic for Cooper’s tastes. “You gotta help me!” he insisted without preamble. “I mean, you’re a girl, so you must get how girls think.”

“Glad you noticed,” Cooper replied ruefully as she looked down at her ink-stained uniform top. “What’s the problem?”

“It’s our three-month anniversary. Me and Carla’s. I need to think of something cool to do. Should I take her out to dinner? Buy her something? How much is it gonna cost for me to show her I’m better than all her ex-boyfriends? Do I have to get her some ice?”

“As in diamonds?” Cooper inquired after a moment’s puzzlement. When Emilio nodded glumly, she tried to reassure him. “I don’t think ‘ice’ is necessary. Unless you’re preparing to propose?”

Emilio paled. “Hell, no! I like this girl, but I am not ready to wear the old ball and chain. No way, man.”

Grinning, Cooper moved over to the sink and began to scrub her hands. It was too easy to push Emilio’s buttons. Still, her coworker had earnestly sought her help, so the least she could do was take him seriously. “You don’t need to buy anything. You could take Carla somewhere special. What does she like to do?”

“Same as me. Watch ESPN and reality shows on TV. Go